'Nothing to celebrate about 26th anniversary of EDSA'

MANILA, Philippines - There is nothing to celebrate about the 26th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution since the government has failed to address rising food and fuel prices and poverty, Gabriela party-list Rep. Emmerenciana de Jesus said yesterday.

“Nothing is celebratory about the 26th EDSA People Power anniversary. Nothing is celebratory about incessant oil price hike, power rate hike and increases in the price of basic good and commodities, and lack of basic social services for the marginalized Filipinos,” De Jesus said in a statement.

She called on militant women’s groups to renew their commitment to fight the perpetrators of poverty and hunger, citing the oil cartel that continues to rake in huge profits at the expense of the poor.

The Aquino government has been deaf to the plea of marginalized women to repeal EVAT (expanded value added tax), Oil Deregulation Law and EPIRA (Electric Power Industry Reform Act), she said.

De Jesus said oil companies increased prices six times this year and were set to impose another round of price hikes next week. She said power rates and the price of liquefied petroleum gas also increased.

“All these (price hikes) amid the scarcity of jobs and absent basic social services. This troika is nailed to the poor women by the President’s statement that VAT will stay,” she said.

“Amid hunger and poverty, I am asking the President, what are you doing for our country? While the EPIRA, oil deregulation law, EVAT, while foreign troops freely enter the country, while there’s still no job security and lands for our country, the lives and dignity of women and the future of our children are already being destroyed,” she said.