THE MEMBERS of the Makabayan Coalition, who signed the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, expected resistance when they arrived in the city to bring their platforms to the communities.
Instead, seven of the eleven senatorial bets who conducted grassroots campaigns in various barangays in the city on Friday, Feb. 21, were courteously met by the residents.
Former Bayan Muna representative Teddy Casiño, former Gabriela representative Liza Maza, Moro activist Amirah Lidasan, Filipino Nurses United secretary general Alyn Andamo, Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya Pilipinas vice chair Ronnel Arambulo, incumbent Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kilusang Mayo Uno secretary general Jerome Adonis faced the media in a press conference on Saturday, Feb. 22.
Maza, who were also in the house-to-house campaign on Friday in San Roque here, said they were expecting worse when they landed in the city but were surprised by the warm welcome of the residents.
“Na-surpise din ako kasi sila mismo ang humihingi ng posters at hindi ko nga iyan naranasan sa ibang lugar. We take that as very positive, but nevertheless we respect them,” Maza added.
Brosas echoed the same sentiment of Maza expecting hostility from residents but was shown otherwise.
Casiño stressed their presence in the city is a commitment the group ensures the voice of the poor and marginalized is brought to the national stage, regardless of the political landscape.
“Naunawaan namin na ang mga Dabawenyo, malalim ang kanilang loyalty support sa pamilyang Duterte, pero sinasabi namin marami namang issue na pwede nating pag-usapan at mukhang naintindihan naman ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.
Upon their consultation in the communities, each senatorial bet reported that Davaoeños are on with all Filipinos in aspiring for food security, living wages, adequate housing, sustainable livelihood, accessible healthcare, human rights, and good governance.
Among the major platforms of the coalition include institutionalizing P1,200 family living wage, removal of the value-added and excise tax for basic commodities, anti-privatization of public utilities, advancement of farmers, fisherfolks, teachers, nurses, and other professional rights, and affordable and accessible healthcare and education.
Adonis also shared the need for a living wage, considering the increasing inflation as the current minimum wage fails to feed a family.
“Alam ng mga kababayan natin na ang sahod ay hindi kayang buhayin ng disente ang pamilya, so nagreresulta siya ng kahirapan sa pamilya ng manggagawa, at pangalawa ang taas ng presyo ng bilihin,” Adonis stressed.
According to Ibon Foundation research, since the Wage Rationalization Law in 1989, the real value of the minimum wage in Metro Manila has remained the same, while areas outside Metro Manila, including Davao, have decreased.
It added that while the real minimum wage in the region has increased by only 9%, the productivity of workers in Metro Manila has increased by 62% from 2000 to 2023.
When asked if the group will risk losing votes from Davaoeños knowing they openly critique Dutertes, Casiño responded, “We cannot water down our principles just for the sake of courting for votes, we have to stand firm, otherwise, we are just making bluffs here.”
Seventy-four complainants from progressive groups led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), filed the second impeachment complaint in December against Vice President Sara Duterte on the grounds of gross corruption and misuse of public funds.
