Tuesday, July 29, 2008 Anti-Sona protest crowd thins down By Carlo P. Mallo and Grace L. Plata
THE crowds who gathered under the heat of the sun to express anger against the Arroyo administration was relatively thinner, compared to the previous protest actions, which called for the resignation of the President.
Views against the Sona, however, were as fiery as before, with protesters coming from as far as Kidapawan and Cotabato joining the pool of speakers and protesters.
Coming from all walks of life -- students, militants, labor groups, and party-list groups -- gathered Monday morning at the Freedom Park fronting the Ateneo de Davao University to express their sentiments against the eight-year rein of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which was celebrated with her annual State of the Nation Address (Sona).
Most visible were the groups of Akbayan, Gabriela, Anak Pawis, League of Filipino Students, and Bayan.
The crowd though did not come up at par with the one gathered during the height of the ZTE national broadband deal scandal late last year.
The protesters were calling for the removal of the value added tax (VAT) on petroleum products amidst the rising costs of fuel, an across the board increase in wages, cheaper rice, and land for the farmers, among others.
There was also minimal police presence around Freedom Park as the area has been appointed as a free for all park wherein protest actions may be conducted without having the need to secure permits.
Despite the smaller crowd, the militants' Sona was attended by groups from as far as Kidapawan and Cotabato.
Suara Bangsamoro Chair Amirah Lidasan hit the Arroyo government for the "insincerity" of the recently-resumed peace talks, which once again ended in an impasse after two days.
"In a matter of days, impasse na naman. That only shows that Arroyo is only going for the 'pogi points' by resuming the talks," Lidasan said.
She added that they hope the impasse would not mean another all-out offensive in the process.
Farmers allied with the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and lumads under Pasaka, on the other hand, read out an open letter to the President blaming her for their continued landlessness and lack of food on the table.
"This regime did nothing to alleviate poverty wrought by centuries of landlessness. Band-aid solutions and dole outs did nothing to realize your promises of prosperity. You lifted not a finger to change our pitiable situation under a fake and deceitful Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp). Instead, you have allowed the small percentage of rich and landed families, with whom you belong, the monopoly of vast tracks of lands," they said.
Youth groups also expressed their anger and disappointment with the President who they said has prioritized warfare over education.
"Since her first Sona, she has promised to make education a priority but until present, this has not been realized. Ginuna pa niya ang pakigyera kaysa sa paghatag ug budget para sa edukasyon. Maski ang gobyerno niangkon nga daghan na ang wala naka-eskewla sa pagkakarun," Anakbayan Spokesperson Karlos Manlupig said.
Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap spokesperson Franchie Buhayan also deplored Arroyo's capitalization of the people's miserable condition for her grandstanding of her newly created national social welfare program.
Buhayan added: "The people have not been pleased by Gloria Arroyo's program for the poor. They have in fact lost their patience and trust in Gloria Arroyo's government and they are now ready to express their discontent in any ways their voices would be heard."
The groups in general branded President Arroyo as a "liar," saying she has not made good on any of the promises made during her past addresses.
Meanwhile, City Councilor Peter T. Laviña called the Sona as redundant and therefore useless.
"Short on good things to say on her Sona today, Arroyo would highlight the event instead by what she would be wearing for the joint opening of Congress," Laviña said.
He also bashed the huge sum spent just to beautify the Batasang Pambansa where the President delivered her 8th Sona.
"Amidst the many crises facing the country, a number of which were caused by erroneous policies of this administration, the House is spending a huge sum for a facelift," Laviña said.
Starting with over P9 million for renovating the damage by a bomb blast last year, the House, under the new leadership of Speaker Prospero Nograles, would be spending P200 million for the makeover. This, Laviña believes, is aimed to polish the House image after the Jose de Venecia era.
"Unfortunately for the House, in spite of this cosmetic make up and more projects to cost a total of P1 billion, its image would not change a bit. To me, it remains to be the house of wasteful trapos (traditional politicians) and abode of lackeys of the Palace," the councilor said.
"I believe profligate is just about the right word to describe spending P1 billion for a makeover when hunger stares a third of our people in their faces," he added.
