Farmers, fisherfolk, sugarcane field workers, drivers, workers, youth, and other sectors from different municipalities in Batangas District 1 launched a five-day protest camp in Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila City, from April 8 to 23. They demanded the removal of value-added and excise taxes on petroleum products, higher wages, and lower prices of basic commodities.
Nearly 2,000 farmers, sugarcane workers, and fisherfolks marched on April 13 from their camp in Liwasang Bonifacio to the House of Representatives to push their demands. Joining the protest were KAISAHAN-Batangas, SAMBAT, HABAGAT, and KASAMA-Southern Tagalog.
The rallyists said the price of crude oil has already reached ₱100 per liter, while a sack of fertilizer now costs ₱2,500. The price of LPG has also gone up to ₱1,500 per 11 kilograms, and rice now costs ₱65 per kilo. Meanwhile, workers’ wages in Batangas remain stuck between ₱450 and ₱600.
The Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA, or Union of Agricultural Workers) joined the people of Batangas in their demands.
“Agricultural workers don’t own land to plant food, and where will they get the money to buy food when the minimum wage in the region is only ₱525?” UMA national chairperson Ariel Casilao said. He said the demands of Batangas people and of the whole country are just, but the government continues to disregard their pleas.
UMA called on the Department of Agriculture to immediately release production subsidies for small farmers. It also demanded wage subsidies to help farmers and planters to continue paying sugarcane workers for their livelihood.
