Social movements march against chacha, link up with church groups

Labor organizations and social movements on Thursday participated in the ecumenical gathering “PANAGHOY, PANALANGIN AT PANININDIGAN LABAN SA CHARTER CHANGE” event led by the Koalisyon Laban sa Chacha held at Plaza Roma, directly in front of the Manila Cathedral and the Commission on Elections office.

 

But before converging at Plaza Roma, sectoral and community groups gathered from eight in the morning at the Missionary Charity beside the Delpan Sports Complex in Tondo and marched towards Anda Circle to link up with other contingents.

 

Carrying the banner "Sahod Itaas, Cha-Cha Iatras" were the Federation of Free Workers (FFW), Partido Manggagawa (PM), and Sentro ng Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO), all conveners of the NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition. Meanwhile, KALIPUNAN is comprised of groups Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), Kilos Maralita (KM), PAKISAMA, PM, SENTRO, and World March of Women.

 

Also joining the march were the Akbayan party, the human rights group In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement or iDefend, Tindig Pilipinas, UPAC and DAMPA.

 

Urban poor residents from Parola and Baseco in Tondo, particularly those from Isla Puting Bato and Slip 0, called on the government to prioritize and fund housing programs for the poor instead of pushing for chacha which offers land ownership to foreign citizens. Women and youth participants also voiced their demands for wider social services and the eradication of violence.

 

In their related statements, the groups asserted that the Constitution is not the reason why many Filipinos remain poor. They argued that the real problem lies in the concentration of wealth in a few hands and the dynastic governance of the country's leaders.

 

They also claimed that charter change was never the people’s urgent concerns such as inflation, wage hike and unemployment, hence there is no reason for lawmakers to prioritize it.

 

The Koalisyon Laban sa Chacha is a coalition of church, sectors, and community groups launched on February 14 to oppose charter change while simultaneously advocating for the people's demands, deepening democracy, and good governance.

 

Following the mass, the coalition conducted their program including sectoral speeches, during which they called on the Comelec to completely halt the people’s initiative. Part of the action also included commemorating the People Power that began on February 22, 1986.

 

They vowed to continue opposing cha-cha until the people’s initiative and even the convening of ConAss for economic charter change are completely stopped. 

Photos and videos can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/

NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition

Kalipunan ng mga Kilusang Masa (KALIPUNAN)

February 22, 2024