Bayan slams P10-million budget for GMA legacy parade

MANILA, Philippines - A militant group said yesterday the P10-million budget allocated for the celebration of outgoing President Arroyo is “a waste of public funds” as it vowed to counter the celebration with protest actions on June 12, Independence Day.

Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. issued the statement after deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar was quoted as saying that there is nothing wrong if the President wants to communicate her achievements to the public. Reyes said although there is nothing wrong with flashy celebrations, splurging people’s money is deplorable.

“That P10 million to be spent on a celebration showcasing achievements that were never achieved is an outrage, especially at a time when more and more Filipino families are struggling to simply make ends meet,” Reyes said.

“This kind of immoral and unnecessary spending comes amid worsening poverty,” he said. Malacañang had earlier said it intended to highlight Mrs. Arroyo’s achievements during her nine-year term on June 12, her last Independence commemoration as chief executive.

She is the second longest serving Philippine president, next to the late former President Ferdinand Marcos. Among the highlights of the celebration are the 10 floats representing Mrs. Arroyo’s 10-point agenda, including budget reform, education for all, automation of elections, transportation and digital infrastructure, termination of hostilities with the New People’s Army and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Floats will also be made for healing the wounds of the three Edsa uprisings, electricity and water for all, opportunities for livelihood and the creation of 10 million jobs, decongestion of Metro Manila, and the development of Subic and Clark.“It is a crime to spend a fortune on a celebration that will give Mrs. Arroyo the opportunity to boast of non-existent feats.”

“The floats, pomp and glamour that government will be mounting on June 12 will not change the people’s perception of the President, nor will it erase her dismal record for the last nine years,” Reyes said. Bayan announced that their members would march from the US embassy to Mendiola, Manila on June 12.