Progressive groups hit ‘worsening economic crisis,’ seek wage hike
He said they support House Bill 7568 or the P750 Wage Increase Bill filed by the Makabayan bloc and Senate Bill 2002 or the P150 Across -the-Board Wage Increase Act submitted by Senate President Miguel Zubiri “as it will give substantial economic relief for the workers if passed.”
Dizon also expressed concern that several jeepney and bus drivers would lose their jobs with the implementation of the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project, also known as High Priority Bus System.
He added that the farmers in the region are also “experiencing the economic crunch as the buying price of agricultural and marine products remain low, while the price of farm inputs and equipment are high.[]
”
“This continuing hardship of our farmers is a product of gross neglect of the government in giving importance to our agriculture; sans genuine agrarian reform we always have food shortage,” he said.
He criticized President Marcos for traveling to Washington, D.C., “instead of facing the workers and responding to people’s grievances.”
Marcos arrived in the US on Monday for his four-day official visit where he is expected to meet President Joe Biden to reaffirm the strong diplomatic relations of the Philippines with the US.
Instead of crafting meaningful and pro-people socio-economic programs, Dizon said the current administration made it a priority to continue the “neoliberal and repressive policies that aggravated people’s hardships” such as the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion, Rice Tariffication Law, Anti-Terrorism Act, and the US-RP Balikatan military exercises.
“We call on the government to expand the provision of aid or subsidies to those most affected by unemployment and poverty due to the worsening economic crisis,” he said.
“We call on all Filipinos to stand with our rights to living wage, life, and redress of grievances. Let us not be cowed by red-tagging, harassment, and other militarist programs of the government as it only aims to preserve the current situation,” he said.[]
