Groups claim a failed gov’t
BY: JOEY A. GABIETA/ROEL T.AMAZONA
TACLOBAN CITY- Lies and unfulfilled promises.
Thus claimed members of the different progressive groups in the city as they held their protest rally in time of the third State of the Nation Address (Sona) by President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday who boasted his administration’s accomplishments.
The rallyists, which started their rally inside the premises of the Santo Niño Shrine along Real Street and ended at Rizal Avenue where they held a short program, claimed that despite of the report of Mr. Duterte, Eastern Visayas, in particular, remain to be undeveloped with much of its people remain to be living below poverty line.
And their misery was compounded further with the implementation of the TRAIN (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion) Law which they claimed resulted only in the soaring of basic prices.
Joshua Sagdullas, spokesperson of the Bayan Muna, said that under the administration of Pres. Duterte, killings have become common and ordinary.
He was referring to the controversial campaign of the President on illegal drugs which resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 people.
Sagdullas also said that the campaign has also resulted in the arrest of even innocent civilians.
In his Sona, Pres. Duterte said that, among others, his campaign against illegal drugs would continue be it may be ‘chilling.’
The campaign is being strongly criticized by human rights groups, to include some foreign countries.
The President also boasted his campaign to end contractualization being practice by several business establishments.
Mr. Duterte also asked government agencies to stop red tape which has been seen as a cause of corruption among government leaders and personnel.
The President also vows to connect all islands of the country, to include Eastern Visayas, by constructing needed facilities like bridges and seaports.
The 100 rallyists said that they would continue to dramatize their opposition to the administration of Pres. Duterte which they have earlier pinned their hopes in addressing the country’s basic woes like its poverty situation.
Joshua Sagdullas, spokesperson of the Bayan Muna, said that the implementation of the TRAIN Law also resulted for a higher inflation rate, or the rising of prices of goods and services, in the region.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the inflation rate of the region stood at 6.3 percent as of June, which was higher compare to the national level of 5.2 percent.
Jun Berino, secretary general of Sagupa (Samahan han mga Gugti na Parag-uma ha Sinirangan Bisayas), said that farmers in the region, for one, remains to be poor with majority of them still without their own lands to till.
“He had promised to give free lands to our farmers but this remains to be an unfulfilled promise,” Berino said.
He also said that proving another burden to the poor Filipino people was the implementation of the TRAIN (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion) Law which he said resulted to higher prices of basic commodities.
“This TRAIN only resulted for the lives of the poor to become more miserable as it resulted to higher prices of commodities,” Berino said.
The President said that he would continue to implement the TRAIN Law saying it benefitted the poor through financial assistance.
