Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Metro Manila led metro-wide ‘Black Friday palengke protests’ earlier against the Duterte administration’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN).
Local progressive groups gathered at Muñoz Market in Quezon City, Trabajo Market in Manila, Marikina Clock Tower, Pasig Palengke, Camarin Market in Caloocan, Alabang Public Market, and Poblacion Market in Muntinlipa City.
Photos by Jade dela Cuadra, Sarah de Leon, Kathy Yamzon, and Narene Otic
According to the group, the decentralized protests decry the tax hikes of the Duterte government on consumer goods, commodities, and basic services will eventually “kill” the poor.
“We wear black today to show that the Filipino people are suffering from heavy consumer taxes. We wear black as a symbol of our condemnation to the TRAIN which is already burdening the shoulders of poor Filipinos,” said Bayan Metro Manila chairperson Mong Palatino.
Palatino further said that the TRAIN is “nothing but an anti-poor, anti-national and pro-foreign business law”.
Palatino also deplores budget secretary Benjamin Diokno’s pronouncement on the government’s coping strategy on families affected by the TRAIN. Ten million households will receive P200 per month from the government.
“The P200 relief aid of the Duterte government is nothing but a band-aid solution that will not benefit our poor people but will eventually be additions to feed business tycoon’s pocket,” Palatino added.
Bayan Metro Manila urged the Supreme Court (SC) to answer the petitions against the said tax reform.
“The SC must show its voice for the majority of our people who have been suffering the impact of TRAIN. Our justices must issue a temporary restraining order at the soonest possible time and eventually junk this anti-poor law,” Palatino said.
