Labor Day rallies today
ILOILO City – Across Western Visayas, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are deploying maximum personnel today, Labor Day.
Cause-oriented group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan-Panay), in coordination with Kilusang Mayo Uno and affiliates, will hold protest actions to bring forward the issues affecting the labor sector and the public in general.
There will be synchronized mobilizations in the cities of Iloilo and Roxas and in Kalibo, Aklan as part of a nationally-coordinated campaign, said Hope Hervilla, Bayan-Panay chairperson.
A total of 15,000 participants are projected to join today’s mass actions in Panay Island alone, she revealed.
Both the AFP and PNP have been on full alert status since yesterday afternoon.
On the part of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), uniformed and plainclothes personnel will be deployed on mains streets, especially in areas where militant groups rally.
Strict frisking and checkpoints will be done to avoid any untoward incidents, ICPO director Senior Supt. Ruperto Floro said.
He also said the ICPO will be putting up police assistance desks.
Survivors of super typhoon “Yolanda” will join the mass actions. Hervilla said they will protest the negligence of the government.
“The national government’s promise of P30,000 cash assistance per family hit by ‘Yolanda’ has yet to reach the affected families,” said Kimsin Tugna of Rise-Up Aklan.
Rise-up Aklan is an organization of “Yolanda” survivors in the province of Aklan.
Some 2,000 of them will take to the streets of Kalibo and adjacent towns.
“I appeal to the public and rallyists to be considerate especially in using roads to ensure a peaceful celebration of Labor Day,” Floro said, referring to the protesters in Iloilo City.
On the other hand, the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, through Major Gen. Aurelio Baladad, issued this statement: “We recognize the efforts of the working class in the region as partner of the industry that helps the economy move forward. It is but fitting to give due respect to our workers.”
He assured the public that soldiers of the 3ID will continue to advocate just and lasting peace and maintain an environment conducive to sustainable economy so as to generate more job opportunities.
Baladad said his men will be in the field to help the police keep the Labor Day celebration peaceful.
Protests in Capiz, meanwhile, will focus in Roxas City. An estimated 8,000 “Yolanda” victims will be demanding immediate government action to their plight./PN
