MANILA, Philippines — Several dissenters have gathered in the streets of Commonwealth Avenue to protest ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
Militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno refuted the president’s “grand claims of progress” and said insecure jobs and several policies affect the workers in the country.
During the protest, the “real state of the nation” according to the militant labor group, is the lack of security for Filipino workers.
“Top 5 na usapin ng manggagawa at mamamayang Pilipino ang pagkontrol sa mga taas-presyo, pagtaas ng sahod ng mga manggagawa, pagtugon sa malawakang kahirapan, paglikha ng trabaho, at pagwawakas ng katiwalian sa gobyerno,” KMU said in a statement.
Most of the calls urge the chief executive to address the “economic plight” of workers including wage issues, regional problems of different sectors, the jeepney modernization program, and an end to contractualization.
Every fourth Monday of July, incumbent president delivers a national address to showcase the government’s achievements and progress, present the administration’s agenda, and request the Congress to pass key bills.
The group likewise called on the national government to pass the Security of Tenure bill “to end the scheme of contractualization.”
According to KMU, contractualization “has caused job insecurity among Filipinos and relegated contractual workers to even below minimum wage rates.”
The Security of Tenure Bill was vetoed by former President Rodrigo Duterte. Meanwhile, during the 2022 campaigns, Marcos says it may consider “prioritizing” the passing of the Security Tenure Act after securing the backing of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.
To this day, the Security of Tenure Act remains a castle in the air.
In a separate statement, transport group PISTON called the third SONA as yet another “nothing but a flimsy, cruel charade if the president will allow constant oil price hikes, imposing higher electricity rates, phasing out jeepneys, and refusing to implement the essential P1200 family living wage.
“Jeepney drivers and operators anticipate nothing substantial from this regime’s third SONA—only more callous motherhood statements that fail to address their economic plight,” PISTON National President Mody Floranda said.
For this year’s SONA, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will station 23,000 officers throughout Metro Manila to ensure public safety.
According to PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, rallies are prohibited on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, though protesters may gather up to Tandang Sora.
