MANILA, Philippines – Activists say they have new reasons to rally when President Benigno Aquino III delivers his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 28, even as they say nothing has changed since last year.

Thousands are set to gather in Tandang Sora Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City from 10 am to 12 pm on Monday. Some groups are set to march closer to Batasang Pambansa Complex where Aquino will give his SONA.

According to rally organizers, they are expecting citizens from all sectors of society to join the protest.

Ordinary wage-earners, housewives, unemployed youth, underpaid government employees, professionals, farmers and fisherfolk will be represented, said organizers from activist group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) in a July 27 press release.

“Come rain or shine or even both, there will be no let up of protests from infuriated workers who have shed tears and sweat, been bled dry by the government’s tax impositions only to find out that they have been deceived by Aquino, their so-called representa-thieves in Congress and cronies,” said Leody de Guzman, national chairperson of BMP.

New SONA, new issues

Filipinos have more cause to be angry with Aquino during his second to the last SONA, said Mong Palatino, Bagong Alyansa Makabayan Metro Manila chairperson. Palatino was a former party-list representative in Congress.

Certain issues, in particular, stand out for him and his group.

“This government is criminally liable for neglecting the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda and other disasters,” he said during a July 23 press conference. 

He also criticized Aquino’s administration for not intervening to lower Meralco’s high electricity rates which only served to burden consumers.

Aquino’s 4th year in power also saw the signing of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States which some groups say benefits the US more than it does the Philippines.

There are calls for the Supreme Court to declare it unconstitutional since the EDCA was signed without Senate approval, a requirement of the 1987 Constitution for the entry of foreign military bases, troops and facilities into the country.

De Guzman added that the record-high economic growth often touted by the Aquino administration as one of its major achievements is still not felt by the masses.

“If there were any economic gains since Aquino’s 4^th SONA, it was close to nil since the greater majority of the country’s toiling masses have yet to benefit from the mirage-like growth.”

And though the pork barrel scam was exposed during his term, Aquino’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) is nothing more than “the president’s pork,” said Palatino.

Talking DAP

Rally organizers expect Aquino to once again defend the DAP during his speech.

“The workers expect Aquino and his bunch of shady pranksters to flaunt the supposed economic fruits of their DAP when in fact it is the workers’ uneventful back-breaking daily toil (that) is what lubricates the cogs and gears of the economy,” said De Guzman of BMP.

Two impeachment complaints have been filed against Aquino both over the DAP. Weeks before, the Supreme Court declared parts of the DAP unconstitutional.

In the past two months, Aquino’s satisfaction and approval ratings reached its lowest point since he assumed the presidency in 2010.

Security at Congress

Around 10,000 police will be deployed to provide security on Monday, according to the Philippine National Police.

Starting 3 am, Commonwealth Avenue (North-bound) from the Jocfer U-turn slot (U-turn slot near corner Feria Road) to San Simon will be closed to traffic, said the Metro Manila Development Authority. Vehicles should take the zipper lane along the south-bound direction. – Rappler.com