Local political supporters start campaigning for national bets

CEBU, Philippines —  Different grassroots groups in Cebu have begun campaigning for their respective national candidates on the first day of the campaign period for national candidates.

Identified with Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Mangagawa-Visayas and Partido Manggagawa-Cebu, some 300 fisherfolks put up pink tarpaulins on their motor bancas and sailed along the Mactan Channel to show their support for the Robredo and Pangilinan tandem.

Workers under the banner of Partido Manggagawa (PM) and the labor coalition Alliance of Labor Leaders for Leni (ALL4Leni) mobilized in major industrial cities across the country to kick off the election campaign of the Leni-Kiko tandem.

“Aangat ang ating buhay sa pagkampi ni Leni at Kiko sa agenda ng manggagawa at maralita,” stated Dennis Derige, PM-Cebu spokesperson.

ALL4Leni and its counterpart Leni Urban Poor Council (Leni UP) had forged covenants with Leni Robredo and Kiko Pangilinan last November 29 and this January 31 respectively. PM and its affiliates are both members of ALL4Leni and Leni UP.

In Talisay City, fisherfolks held a fluvial parade this morning. Later in the day, the labor union of Carmen Copper in Toledo City staged a motorcade.

Also, 200 modern jeepneys were decked with pink ribbons as they drove around Metro Cebu and the province. Workers leaving the night shift and those going to work in the morning, had a “salubungan” with MEPZ worker-volunteers passing leaflets to fellow workers and passersby.

Meanwhile, student volunteers trooped to Danao to leaflet workers of the giant Mitsumi factory. Other youth also leafleted the market aside from tying pink ribbons and Leni-Kiko tarps in Tabunok, Talisay City.

The culmination of the Cebu activities was the human chain of some 200 volunteers at the SRP Road in Talisay City.

“We are supporting Leni and Kiko because of their commitment to ending endo, abolishing provincial rates, lowering prices, public employment programs to generate jobs, unemployment insurance, ayudang sapat, funds for affordable housing for the poor and enforcing the ‘no demolition without relocation’ policy. But beyond this common platform of pro-poor and pro-labor reform, we are supporting Leni and Kiko because the labor movement needs to expand the democratic space so we can organize and campaign to win our demands for change,” Derige explained.

Allied transport groups belonging to Sentro-PM likewise wore pink ribbons showing support for Robredo and Pangilinan.

In separate caravans, various party-list groups allied with the Makabayan Coalition went around Metro Cebu promoting senatorial candidates Neri Colmenares and Elmer Labor.

Jaime Paglinawan, coordinator of Labog for Senator Movement-Cebu, said that the movement “wholeheartedly welcomes” the support of multiple sectors across Cebu, including Cebuano workers, farmers, fisherfolk, drivers, and urban poor for Labog’s  senatorial bid.

“Ka Bong's decades of leadership in the labor movement is proof of his capacity to banner the people's issues. Ka Bong brings the voice of the masses to the Senate,” said Paglinawan.

The Cebu Campaign Caravan of Makabayan had six separate assembly points in Metro Cebu. Each caravan began at 7 a.m. and ended at 5 p.m.

These groups also aired their call for change in the Cebu provincial government leadership as they support former secretary Ace Durano who is running for Cebu governor, along with Vice Governor Hilario “Junjun” Davide III as runningmate.

Though Sentro-PM and Makabayan are separate ideological coalitions, they had expressed support for both Durano and Davide in their campaign.

Oriang Cebu also joined the bandwagon for presidential candidate Leody De Guzman’s labor first policy and called for P750.00 national minimum wage for workers.

Simultaneous with the opening salvo of de Guzman’s presidential campaign, Oriang Cebu launched the Women for Ka Leody’ in front of the regional office of the Department of Labor and Employment-7 airing out their support to de Guzman’s bid.

“The hardships confronted by every household in Cebu today deserves a viable solution that will uplift their living conditions. With the upsurge of inflation rate and the effects of the pandemic, a family of 6 can no longer sustain their daily basic needs. It is only apt for the government to adjust the current minimum wage and implement a wage policy that will address the plight of the workers. Ka Leody’s platform to enact a National Minimum wage is a welcome move,” Cora Lim, chairperson of Oriang Cebu, said in a statement.

Alsa Bisaya Partylist also kicked off their campaign in a motorcade in Cebu City led by first nominee Edgar Catarongan Sr. and third nominee Chito Aragon.

Reminders

Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is reminding everyone to only post election propaganda in the designated posting areas.

DENR-7, in an advisory, said that Section 3 of Republic Act 3571 provides that there should be no cutting or injuring planted trees on public grounds.

“Those caught cutting or injuring these trees, plants, or shrubs shall be punished,” it said.

Moreover, under Section 27 of COMELEC Resolution 10730:  "Creation of Task Force to Tear Down and Remove Unlawful Election Materials", DENR can tear down and remove all unlawful election materials, along with the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Philippine National Police and an election officer.

“Let us be responsible citizens not only in the upcoming elections by exercising our right to vote but also in helping in the conservation of our nature,” the advisory read. – JMD (FREEMAN)