Farmers said Marcos Jr’s decision to give priority to debt servicing and infrastructure during this period of worsening food crisis is telling of what’s in store for Filipinos in the next six years.
“What follows the food crisis will be the worsening hunger of the people.”
“What good are farm-to-market roads if they do not have anything to transport? Agriculture and fisheries productivity has worsened due to continuous hikes in production costs.”
“It’s not just because of the Duterte administration, it’s because of decades of accumulating policies which started during the Marcos dictatorship.”
“Marcos Jr. ‘s disbelief at the rising inflation rate shows his nonchalant attitude and extreme disconnect with the hardship experienced by Filipinos. His life of opulence is far from what ordinary hand-to-mouth Filipinos go through.”
Marcos Jr. has yet to complete his list of cabinet members but several of those identified have been found to be from the family’s bailiwick, the Ilocos region, or linked to his father’s appointees.
A labor group assailed the Department of Finance’s proposed tax reform for the new administration, saying the government apparently does not care on people’s welfare.
Dev’t groups say Filipinos are seeking tangible solutions, looking at the upcoming election as a turning point for democracy and development.
“The next administration must do away with previous and existing neoliberal policies that wreaked havoc on our agriculture and productive forces.”
Filipino farmers are urging the Department of Trade and Industry to implement measures like price ceiling and buffer fund to address increasing prices of basic goods and necessities.
As another Marcos threatens to return to power, hundreds of millions in ill-gotten wealth have yet to be returned to the Filipino people.