Manila Today
On March 8, GABRIELA led the protest joined by supporters from various sectors in commemoration of the International Working Women’s Day themed “Iindak ang agenda Ng Kababaihan; Hindi Ang Cha-Cha Ng Iilan!”.
The groups marched from Vicente Cruz along España Ave but did not push through their ranks to Mendiola following a police barricade along Morayta in front of the Far Eastern University. This, however, did not hamper their protest.
“Ngayong taon, itong chacha ni Marcos ang pilit na idinuduldol sa sambayanang Pilipino. Sino ba ang makikinabang ng chachang ito kung hindi ang pinangangayupapaang imperyalistang dayuhan tulad ng Estados Unidos,” said Letty Castillo of GABRIELA National Capital Region (NCR).
[This year, Marcos Jr’s charter change is being forcibly pushed upon the Filipino nation. Who will benefit from this charter change if not the rapacious foreign imperialists like the United States]
Castillo further emphasized the 8-point women’s agenda which include just wages, sustainable livelihood, public services, land security, climate justice, end gender-based violence, recognition of rights, sovereignty and the rejection of charter change.
This year, protesters highlighted the adverse effects of the proposed charter change under the Marcos Jr. administration in the marginalized sectors, especially urban poor and working-class women.
15-year rice inflation, a govt failure
According to Castillo, the country has long been fixated with government corruption following the economic landscapes characterized by import dependence and export-driven policies.
Despite being an agricultural country, the Philippines is dubbed the world’s top rice importer with an estimated imports of 3.8 million metric tons (MT) in January 2024. The United States’ Department of Agriculture (USDA) also reported that the country is projected to import about 3.9 MT of rice this year after President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Rice Trade Cooperation between Vietnam.
Economic think tank IBON foundation said the rice inflation is the fastest in 15 years and that the Marcos Jr. administration should rescind repeal rice liberalization law that has only led to higher rice prices
“IBON observed that rice prices have only continued to increase since the Rice Tariffication Law was enacted in February 2019, contrary to government claims that the law would usher in cheaper rice. Rice inflation accelerated from 4.5% in February 2019 to 23.7% in February 2024. For the bottom 30% of households, rice inflation accelerated from 4.9% to 26.3 percent. Rice prices soared, with the cost of regular milled rice increasing from Php43/kilo in February 2019 to Php50/kilo in February 2024, and well milled from Php47/kilo to Php56/kilo,” said IBON in a statement.
Former Duterte administration signed the Republic Act No. 11203 or Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) that replaced the quantitative restrictions on imported rice with tariffs of 35% on ASEAN imports and 40% on non-ASEAN imports.
This promised to supporting farmers and improving the country’s rice production, but local farmers and consumers said otherwise.
KADAMAY spokesperson Mimi Doringo slammed Marcos Jr. especially when he promised for the “P20 per kilo of rice” during his campaign in the 2022 election.
“Nasaan ang ipinangakong gaganda at abot-kayang presyo ng mga bilihin? Mas tumitindi ang danas ng mga kababaihang maralita’t anakpawis. Nariyan pa ang mga bayarin sa tubig at kuryente. Kami mismo na nakakaranas kung gaano kahigpit ang ginagawa naming pagbabadyet ay kami ang magpapatunay na patindi nang patindi ang dinadanas ng marami pang sektor dahil sa tumitinding liberalisasyon at pribatisasyon,” said Doringo.
[Where are the promised improvements and affordable prices of goods? The struggles of impoverished women and workers are intensifying. There are also bills for water and electricity. We ourselves, experiencing the tightness of our budget, are the proof that the challenges faced by many sectors are worsening due to increasing liberalization and privatization.]
Doringo lamented on the price of rice standing at approximately P50 to P60 in most major markets.
She emphasized that the proposed charter change would only worsen and continue implementing liberalization and privatization in economic policies and lead to much higher prices in basic commodities including rice.
Promote genuine industrialization
“Ang ating manggagawa ay alipin pa rin ng kakarampot na sweldo na hindi na nagkakaroon ng oportunidad na maging produktibo. Ang ating mga manggagawang kababaihan ay itinuring na lamang na kalakal ng ating lipunan,” Castillo assailed.
[Our workers are still slaves to meager wages, with little chance to be productive. Our women workers are treated as mere commodities in our society]
Castillo noted that the current Marcos Jr. not only exploits the country’s raw materials but also the cheap labor among Filipinos. She added this situation is hounded by the lack of genuine industrialization and intensified globalization.
“Kaya panawagan din natin ang pagbabasura sa Labor Export Policy,” she added.
[That’s why we’re also calling for the scrapping of the Labor Export Policy]
Labor Export Policy was implemented under the Marcos Sr. administration in 1974 aiming to offer overseas employment opportunities mostly to unemployed professionals.
However, labor groups vehemently vehemently opposed the policy that while it did generate foreign currency revenues through remittances from Filipinos working abroad, it perpetuated a cycle of dependency on overseas labor and exacerbated socio-economic issues faced by the working class.Top of Form
GABRIELA, 40 years of struggle
This year also marked the 40th anniversary of GABRIELA.
GABRIELA is a grassroots-based alliance of more than 200 organizations, institutions, desks and programs based in communities, workplaces and schools throughout all regions and major provinces and cities in the Philippines.
It also has chapters in eight countries outside of the Philippines.
GABRIELA organizes Filipino women, primarily from marginalized sectors of society, and helps educate and empower them to fight for their rights and interests through collective action.
“40 taon na tayong humarap sa krisis sa ekonomya, sa napakatinding paglabag sa karapatan ng kababaihan at mamamayan. Mula sa diktadura ni Marcos Sr. hanggang sa kasalukuyang papet, pahirap, at pasistang gobyerno ni Marcos Jr. ay nandito pa rin tayo at sama-samang tumitindig para sa ating kabuhayan, sa nakabubuhay na sahod, sa lupa ng mga magsasaka at iba pang demokratikong karapatan ng karapatan ng kababaihan at mamamayan,” said Clarice Palce of GABRIELA.
[For 40 years, we’ve been facing economic woes and gross violations of women’s and people’s rights. From the dictatorship of Marcos Sr. to the current puppet, oppressive, and fascist government of Marcos Jr., our collective fight continues for our livelihoods, for decent wages, for the land of farmers, and for the democratic rights of women and the people.]
Castillo seconded and called on her fellow peers in the women sector alongside various supporters to fight against the proposed charter change.
“Hindi tayo dapat magpaloko sa pagratsada ng chacha ni Marcos Jr. sapagkat hindi tayo ang makikinabang, magpapanatili lamang sa pwesto si Marcos at ang kanyang mga alipores pati ang pagpapakatuta niya sa US, hindi kailanman makikinabang dito ang sambayanang Pilipino,” Castillo added.
[We shouldn’t be fooled by Marcos Jr.’s push for charter change because we won’t benefit from it. It will only keep Marcos and his cronies in power and maintain subservience to the US, this will never benefit the Filipino people]
