Bicol militants issue 10 point agenda on P-Noy’s SONA!

News Release | July 24, 2010 | Reference: Tessa Lopez, public information officer, BAYAN-Bikol | The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Bikol  I set to lead the region-wide protest actions on the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III on Monday. The activities set on the different Bicol provinces are forums, protest marches, torch parades and tributes for the victims of extra-judicial killings in the region.

According to Tessa Lopez, public information officer of BAYAN-Bikol, “our theme for P-Noy’s first SONA is “Sa Panunungkulan ni Noynoy Tuloy-Tuloy ang Laban para sa  Katarungan at Kabuhayan! Isulong ang Pambansa Demokratikong Pakikibaka ng Mamamayan!” and we have a 10 point Bicol agenda to present to him and they are as follows:

1. Implement genuine agrarian reform and give free land to the tillers. He should also immediately distribute Hacienda Peralta and Berenguer to the peasants. Aside from this the P150 billion coconut levy fund should also be immediately be returned to genuine small coconut farmers.
2. Immediately put a stop to militarization in the countryside because the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is primarily preying on poor farmers. The military keeps on harassing, threatening and killing innocent peasants.
3. Generate enough jobs with decent wages n the Bicol region so that the underemployment rate would go down. It is at 37.8% now which is the highest in the country.
4. Scrap the oil deregulation law and the expanded value added tax (EVAT) especially on oil, water and electricity, as well as other basic commodities.
5. Halt the more than 200% toll increase in the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) because it will mean higher transport fares and also an increase on products that are essential to the region.
6. End large scale mining in the region particularly in Rapu-rapu, Albay, Aroroy in Masbate and Paracale in Camarines Norte. The proposed Libmanan dam should also be shelved.
7. Ensure that the region has enough affordable power and stop the privatization of electric cooperatives. The new administration should also work so that Bicol will be energy self-sufficient before its term ends.
8. Thoroughly investigate the anomalous deals done in the region regarding projects and government funds particularly Arroyo sand their cronies. It must also be guaranteed that the ones involved would be put behind bars.
9. Free all the political prisoners in the region as well as those who came from the region so that it would be a building block for the peace talks.
10. Ensure that justice is served for the victims of extra-judicial killings and disappearances. Measures must also be implemented so that these would not happen again.

“If these are not addressed then most definitely there would be more rallies and protest actions,” ended Lopez. # # #