News Release
1 March 2010
On March 8, 2010, thousands of women all over the country will take the day off from work, including household chores, to take to the streets and protest the continuing crisis that burdens women and their families.
“The worsening economic and political crisis under the Macapagal-Arroyo government is burdening women and families more than ever and spurring more women to join militant actions to demand for their rights and welfare,” said Emmi de Jesus, GABRIELA vice chairperson and Gabriela Women’s Party nominee.
The women’s group cited a survey done by Center for Women’s Resources (CWR) where almost 47% of respondents said mostly affected by cost-cutting measures of families is their meals – either eating one or twice a day or buying cheaper less nutritious food. On the same survey, 77.61% of women respondents said that they take on additional jobs such as vending food and other merchandise (28.36%) or doing odd jobs such as laundry service or sub-contracting work (18.9%) to augment the family’s inadequate income.
“Yet Macapagal-Arroyo knows no shame. Despite the clear distrust in her of the Filipino people, she’s adamant in staying in power. Such desperation and avarice for power compels her to commit every and any devious deed. Macapagal-Arroyo’s impunity and tyranny rivals the Marcos dictatorship,” said De Jesus.
The women’s group said that aside from women’s economic woes caused by the Arroyo government’s pro-globalization policies, their week-long protest actions will also include demands for justice for women and children victims of the government’s repressive measures including the Ampatuan Massacre, where 15 of the victims were women and the case of 43 healthworkers illegally arrested and detained, 26 of whom are women.
The group said more so this March, being the month of women, they will highlight their political power to demand genuine change. Various militant groups, in solidarity with GABRIELA and the Filipino women, will hold women’s actions from March 1 to March 7. The week-long protest will culminate on March 8 with a nationwide women’s action calling for an end to the Macapagal-Arroyo government and any machinations to remain in power.
“Change starts with putting an end to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s reign of evil. She and her cohorts must be punished and jailed for the crimes they committed against the women and the people.”
Reference:
Emmi de Jesus, GABRIELA Vice Chairperson & Gabriela Women’s Party Nominee
Arroyo the outgoing president in the philippines is worse than Marcos-Imelda tyrannistic dynasty. She tolerated unlawful detention and torture of filipino women who risked their lives to help indigenous people from diseases in hinterland. Arroyo should be prosecuted for crimes against humanity and life imprisonment if found guity.