Charter Change for Whom?

"The current calls for charter change sounds like fingers scratching on a blackboard as far as poor women and their families are concerned,” reacted Gabriela Women's Party Representative Emmi De Jesus to yesterday’s drumbeating by former Justice Puno and Senator Miriam Santiago. “It is jarring to the ears of the poor because it does not respond to any of the immediate and long term needs of marginalized and disadvantaged women and their families, who are clamoring for fundamental economic policy changes that address hunger, joblessness and landlessness,” De Jesus added.

"Naniniwala ako na sa panahong ito na patuloy ang pagtaas ng halaga ng mga bilihin at nananatiling inutil ang pamahalaan sa kanyang mandatong pagsilbihan ang bayan at tiyakin ang mahusay na buhay para sa kanila. Maliban dito, nakakabahala ding isipin na ang charter change ay maaari na namang gawing lunsaran ng mga probisyong lalong magpapalala sa usapin ng patrimonya at kasarinlan ng bansa na lalong magpapahirap sa buong mamamayan," De Jesus further explained.The Gabriela solon reiterated that instead of prioritizing charter change, the legislative branch should instead enact laws that will ensure decent jobs and salaries for the workers, as well as make social services affordable and accessible while working on the repeal of laws that are anti-people such as the regressive EVAT law.###