Civil society groups and volunteer organizations raised various concerns in the People’s Council meeting with presidential aspirant, Vice President Leni Robredo, and her running mate, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, at Batangas Provincial Capitol auditorium, Nov. 10.
In the consultative discussion, where each present organizations had the chance to share their call and situation, San Isidro Sur Homeowners Association from Sto. Tomas Batangas sought assistance towards the ongoing demolition and relocation imposed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The group claimed that with their current livelihood, they cannot comply with the fees expected of them which also does not adhere to the law.
“Panahon ng pandemya, pinalilipat po kami sa relokasyon na hindi naman po namin kaya [bayaran]. Kami po ay nasa maralitang kalagayan. Magbibinatog po ang karamihan sa amin, nagtitinda po ng ice cream, nagtatabas, karpintero, at iba pang hanapbuhay na nasa mababang antas,” said Rosalinda Cruz, president of the said association.
Moreover, Tanggol Batangan, a youth-led organization, urges the government to consider the opening of schools in the nearest time possible as the current learning modal is ineffective for students.
Monique Gallardo, Tanggol Batangan representative, also raised the issue of red-tagging incidents in Batangas such as the Bloody Sunday Massacre wherein most of the killed and arrested were progressive organizers often accused as terrorists.
“Karamihan po sa mga napaslang, pinaslang, kinulong, ay matatawag nating ni-redtag. Sila po ay mga organisador, […] mga nagpapalakas po ng mga panawagan, lalo na po sa mga bulnerableng sektor ng lipunan dito sa Batangas. Kung ang pagtulong po ay terorismo, papaano po natin tatawagin ang pagtutulungan?” said Gallardo.
Samahan ng Mangingisda ng Pulo Tabla also appealed for a sustainable and additional livelihood for around 2,000 fishermen in the municipality of Talisay who were greatly affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.
“Kami po ay naging biktima ng pagsabog ng Bulkang Taal. Nangangailangan po kami ng karagdagang hanapbuhay para po sa aming maliliit na mangingisda para po kahit papaano’y magkaroon po ng pagkakaitaan at makabangon po sa pinagdaraanan namin sa buhay,” said Marivic Atienza, Pulo Tabla spokesperson.
In addition, Samahan ng Artisanong Mangingisda sa Calatagan (SAMACA) said that the state of fisheries in Calatagan Batangas is steadily deteriorating as a result of ongoing quarrying, cutting of mangroves, and shoreline privatization, which affects over 400 fisherfolks.
Meanwhile, Balaybay, a group of farmers from Rosario, Lobo, and San Juan, was unable to attend the meeting due to the administration’s claim of alleged communism on mountain ranges which linked the group to the New People’s Army, a church peasant representative said.
With this rising concern on agriculture and fisheries, Pangilinan guaranteed that he will continue to support and represent the sector, which he has been advocating in the past ten years in the Senate.
“Ang aking naging adbokasiya sa loob ng mahigit 10 taon ay agrikultura at pangingisda. Hindi natin hindi maaaring suportahan at i-organisa ang pagsasaka at pangingisda […] Kinakailangan natin silang bigyan ng kalinga, respeto, at suporta para tuluyan nang mawala ang paghihirap sa ating bansa,” Pangilinan said in his speech.
On the other hand, Robredo expressed her gratitude for the projects done by the people in support of their camp, particularly Batangueños, saying that they might not have political resources but they have the people’s trust.
“Wala kaming resources, wala po kami ng kanilang politikal na lakas, wala kami ng kanilang makinarya. Pero ang meron lang samin ay tiwala ng taumbayan at ang tiwala pong ito ang nagbibigay ng energy, ng passion, ng commitment sa inyong lahat para sabayan kami sa laban. Hindi man tayo makakasabay sa kanilang style, wala ng mas lalakas pa sa lakas ng taumbayan,” Robredo said in her speech.
Robredo also mentioned that it was really in her plan to visit Batangas to personally thank Batangueños for their efforts in supporting her.
Meanwhile, senatorial candidate Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who was also present at the event, reaffirmed to the masses that an administration led by Robredo and Pangilinan would be inclusive and empathetic towards the Filipino people, prioritizing the poor and vulnerable sectors.
“Kung gusto po natin ng isang pamumuno na subok na sa pagtulong, nakikinig sa masa, at nagmamalasakit sa pamilyang Pilipino, […] na inuuna ang interes ng mga mahihirap, ng mga nagkakasakit, at nawawalan ng trabaho, at nagugutom, kay Leni at Kiko tayo,” said Hontiveros.
Other aspiring senators under Robredo’s slate who attended the event were former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, former Ifugao congressman Teddy Baliguat Jr., and labor leader Atty. Sonny Matula.
Moreover, former Department of Education (DepEd) secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste, and Atty. Fhilip Sawali, representative of Sen. Leila de Lima, was also present in the said event.
The People’s Council meeting was a project of Robredo’s late husband, Jesse Robredo, for Naga City. She hopes that by establishing councils in various provinces, it would give a platform for civil society, multi-sectoral groups, and various people’s organizations to be heard.
The event observed minimum health protocols such as social distancing and wearing face masks and was only limited to 166 participants who were fully vaccinated.
