SOUTHERN TAGALOG, Philippines – As President Rodrigo Duterte steps into office, various organizations from the Southern Tagalog region, spearheaded by the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in the region stayed vigil at the Mendiola Bridge today in looking for immediate action on the region’s immediate issues.
The groups held a press conference today to present the Southern Tagalog agenda, a document highlighting the various issues and called-for alternatives. This was submitted to the new Head-of-State yesterday, as leaders from different regions were given audience and an opportunity to give their proposals.
Meanwhile, they also requested an audience with the Chief Executive, as they aimed to request abrupt and pro-people interventions. For this, the groups submitted a letter to the Office of the President, highlighting the most urgent issues and the dire conditions of the people of the Southern Tagalog region. The groups also set a discussion with the incoming administration regarding the regional agenda.
By the afternoon, they set foot in the national office of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Quezon City, where the farmers, represented by the Katipunan ng Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (KASAMA-TK) laid out the Southern Tagalog Peasant Agenda, which aims to be a supplement to the targets of the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB).
The agency visit also served as a welcome for new DAR secretary Rafael Mariano, former representative of ANAKPAWIS Party-list, as he serves his first day in the agency.
BAYAN-ST spokesperson Diego Torres said that, “with the coming of President Duterte who is open for genuine reforms and talks with progressive organizations, the people are hopeful that immediate actions will be pushed by the new administration. One of these is GARB which will solve the basic problems of our farmers.”
Afterwards, the S. Tagalog delegation heads to Quiapo church for a mass ceremony to commemorate all the victims of human rights violations. Also, the delegation offered flowers indicating the resumption of peace talks and freedom of all political prisoners.
“We trust and believe Duterte and the new administration to stand firm and act on their pro-people stance. The people of our country have long been oppressed and are still suffering because of the anti-people actions done by past administrations,” added Torres.
“We also call for the resumption of the long-stalled peace talks, as such actions shall give way to the tackling of the roots of the armed conflict in the country,” he stated.
The protest actions ended by nightfall, as the Southern Tagalog delegation prepares for a new set of actions in the midst of the new administration.
Farmers delegation passes regional agenda, troops to DAR
