Militant groups in Negros Occidental staged a protest to call for reforms to address the “multi-crisis” faced by the urban poor, in front of the Fountain of Justice at Araneta Street in Bacolod City on Tuesday, March 26.
Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralita ng Lungsod (KPML) together with Partido Lakas ng Masa, Sanlakas, BMP-Negros, and other grassroots organization joined the protest against Charter change, low wages and high prices of goods.
The rally is part of their annual “Kalbaryo sang Pigado (Calvary of the Poor)”, which is usually held during Holy Week to fight for the rights of the urban poor.
The protestors slammed the incessant rise in commodity prices, inadequate wages, and looming demolitions.
“We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the suffering of the urban poor,” Ludy Villariaz of KPML Negros said, adding “It is time for concrete solutions that prioritize the well-being of all Filipinos, especially those most vulnerable”.
The protestors also demanded for fair economic reforms that put the needs of the marginalized first and protect the environment for generations to come.*