Pamalakaya slammed Roxas-Robredo for using the fishers, farmers as pawns
Manila, Philippines – The fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya-Pilipinas) lambasted the Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Mar Roxas and his running mate Leni Robredo for using fishermen and farmers as their political pawns for the upcoming elections.
On April 15, the ruling Liberal Party (LP) convened almost 5,000 farmers and fisherfolk in Pasay to enlist their support to the LP’s tandem, peddling the ‘daang matuwid’ as the path for genuine rural development.
But Pamalakaya said that farmers and fishers’ support for LP is beyond the realm of possibility, for those sectors are not oblivious on what the LP especially Roxas have done to inflict more hardships to the already poverty stricken rural people.
“Mar Roxas is delusional and pretentious for thinking that he will get support from the sectors that suffered from the fantasies of ‘daang matuwid’.” Salvador France, Pamalakaya vice-chairperson said in a statement.
Pamalakaya said that Roxas is acting like he has done anything to improve the agriculture and fisheries sector. The fact is, he and his ilk are the number one implementers of policies and programs that are detrimental to the interests of farmers and fishers.
During the conference, Roxas have flaunted his affordable loans and post-harvest facilities for the fishermen, which the fisherfolk group has denounced.
“There is no such thing as ‘affordable loan’ when this contributes even more to the indebtedness and pauperism of the fisherfolk. Why not provide a direct and adequate support to the fishers instead of lending them money? This clearly shows that Roxas is not in touch with the reality”. France added.
“There is no way that the fishers and farmers will tread the path of ‘daang matuwid’ because they know that this is a road to a never ending poverty and hardship for their sector.” France ended. ###
