True SONA shows people poorer, jobless, hungry —groups

Ahead of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25, several progressive groups said that poverty, joblessness, hunger and other problems confront the people wanting for solutions from the new administration.

The groups such as the Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), Kilusang Mayo Uno, Gabriela, Piston, Kadamay, League of Filipino Students, and Karapatan also vowed to take part in the mobilization simultaneous with Marcos' SONA on Monday.

Ariel Casilao of UMA called for major policies in the agriculture sector, noting that the farm-to-market road masterplan should not be the priority.

“Hinahamon namin si President Marcos kung gusto talaga at seryoso siya na tugunan ang krisis sa pagkain, tugunan ang problema at krisis ng agrikultura, pangunahin po ang magpatupad ng tunay na reporma sa agraryo, todo serbisyo o subsidyo na P15,000 para sa ating mga magsasaka na local food producers,” Casilao said.

(We challenge President Marcos to address the food crisis, address the problem in agriculture, implement real agrarian reform, provide cash subsidy of P15,000 to each farmers who are our local food producers.)

Casilao said the government should not depend heavily on importation and boost local production to ensure sufficient food supply to the population.

Jerome Adonis of Kilusang Mayo Uno called for the passage of bills institutionalizing a national minimum wage and ending contractualization employment practice.

Women's group Gabriela, represented by Jom Salvador, said the new administration must provide opportunities for women, noting that many of them have no source of income.

"Pinakamalaking bahagdan na ng kababaihang Pilipino sa kasalukuyan ang naitalang walang kabuhayan ... nakakaranas ng kahirapan sa kasalukuyang panahon, damang dama din po natin ang napakataas na presyo ng mga batayang bilihin,” Salvador said.

(Filipino women have no means of livelihood, suffer in poverty and battered by  rising prices of basic goods.)

Mody Floranda of Piston said the government must address the high prices of fuel and review the public utility vehicle modernization program.

“Tayo po ay po ay malinaw ang ating position na tayo ay walang problema sa usaping modernization at malinaw din ang ating position na dapat rehabilitation ang ating pampublikong transportasyon,” he said.

(We are clear in our position that we have no problem with the issue of modernization but our position is also clear that our public transportation should be rehabilitated.)

On housing, Eufemia Domingo of Kadamay appealed to the Marcos administration to provide additional housing programs to resolve the backlog during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte which she said has reached 6.7 million.

Albert Pascual of Health Alliance for Democracy sought to raise the wages of healthcare workers who have been at the frontlines at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said nurses should receive a starting salary of P50,000 while healthcare workers should get at least P25,000.

Pascual also said the COVID-19 pay of nurses should be tax-free.

On education, Raymond Basilio of ACT urged the new administration to increase the budget of the education sector and ensure the safety of the students and teachers during the opening of face-to-face classes.

“Kailangan mag-provide ng sapat na bilang ng textbooks, modules, at magbigay ng pangangailangan ng ating mga guro at teachers, kabilang na yung assistance para sa gadget  ng mga estudyante at guro at internet allowance,” Basilio said.

(The government must provide sufficient textbooks, modules and other needs of our teachers, including gadgets and internet allowance.)

Ivan Sucgang of League of Filipino Students echoed the call of Basilio, adding that the teaching of Philippine history should be fortified.  

Jigs Clamor of Karapatan said rights groups will continue to pursue justice for victims of human rights violations. He also called for a stop to red-tagging of activists.—LDF, GMA News