UN Int’l Day of Rural Women
Reclamation projects threatens livelihood of women fisherfolk
Pamalakaya Chairperson and former Anakpawis lawmaker Fernando “Ka Pando” Hicap at the protest marking the International Day of the Rural Women in front of Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. 
Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago at the protest marking the International Day of the Rural Women in front of Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. 
Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas at the protest marking the International Day of the Rural Women in front of Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. 
Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Eufemia Cullamat at the protest marking the International Day of the Rural Women in front of Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. 
Manila, Philippines – Leaders of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) joined the peasant women under Amihan or National Federation of Peasant Women at their protest in front of Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City to mark the United Nation’s International Day of Rural Women in the country. The groups are highlighting the incessant abuses of government forces in rural communities that usually victimize peasant women and children. The United Nations is promoting the invaluable contribution of rural women to development and adopted the theme “Rural Women and Girls Building Climate Resilience.”
“Nakikiisa kami sa national peasant women sa bansa sa pagmarka ng International Day of Rural Women, laluna sa kanilang panawagan ‘Stop Militarization Now!’ kung saan palagiang biktima ng abuso ng mga pulis at militar ang mga kababaihan at kabataan sa mga baryo,” PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson and former Anakpawis Party-list Representative Fernando “Ka Pando” Hicap said during the protest.
He said that women fisherfolk in coastal communities are usual targets of abuses and harassments, especially when they oppose programs and projects that threaten their main sources of livelihood.
“Dito pa lang sa Manila Bay, kasama ang mga kababaihan sa trabaho sa mga pangisdaan, tagapagmintina ng mga tahungan, trap, taga-repair ng mga lambat at mismong namimingwit, para may makain ang kanilang pamilya. Ngayon, palagian silang target ng harasment dahil sa pagkontra nila sa mga reclamation project sa Bacoor at Bulacan,” he said.
He said that fisherfolk women’s opposition to reclamation projects such as the San Miguel Corporation’s (SMC) Aerotropolis project in Bulacan and Bacoor Reclamation Project falls perfectly to the theme set by the United Nations.
“Bukod sa pagtatanggol sa kabuhayan at komunidad, ang paglaban sa reclamation projects ay para sa tunay na rehabilitation ng Manila Bay, maibalik ang marine environment nito, at maiwasan ang panganib ng matinding pagbaha na ibubunga ng mga proyektong ito. Sa mga kababaihang mangingisda, ang climate resilience ay ang mismong paglaban sa mga reclamation projects,” he elaborated.
He urged the people to support the campaign of fisherfolk communities against reclamation projects, for genuine rehabilitation of Manila Bay and protection of socio-economic rights. ###
