Protest actions to be staged by various cause-oriented groups in Negros Occidental will meet President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo when she arrives in Bacolod City today.

Fred Caña of Karapatan-Negros said they made some preparations to protect themselves, citing the hostile treatment they received from the military during the July 2007 Presidential visit in the city.

He said they expect the Presidential Security Group and police personnel to prevent them from getting close to the President, but this will not stop them from making their presence felt.

Karapatan, with UNDOC-Piston and BAYAN-Negros, also scorned the Western Visayas Peace and Security Assembly which opened yesterday at the Planta Hotel in Bacolod City, dubbing it as a “Moro-Moro” aimed at deodorizing the Arroyo administration, to create an illusion of democratic consultation.

The Assembly will be treated to a make-believe picture of `economic prosperity through statistical gimmicks and will be unified to the belief that it is the revolutionary armed forces like the NPA that causes the crisis and obstructs development to justify the increase in the military budget, a statement from BAYAN-Negros said.

The group also called on well-meaning participants in the Assembly to raise real issues such as the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law and the removal of the Reformed Value Added Tax from oil products.

The group also called on the President to stop the repression and political harassment of legitimate political oppositionists and should set an example of government transparency by not obstructing the NBN-ZTE deal investigation.

Meanwhile, in response, the government’s globalization policies underscored privatization, liberalization and deregulation of the Philippine economy, Tingog Sang Gutom (Voices of Hunger) held yesterday an education-forum focusing on food, jobs, land and justice in the country.

Mario Tapi-on, one of the conveners of Voices of Hunger said the local and national situation is getting worse everyday with a bleak future awaiting the young generation.

Their group, he said, hopes to come up with recommendations for the government to effect change starting with dialogs with the local government officials.

After the forum at the Negros Press Club building yesterday, the group went to the office of Gov. Isidro Zayco to present their position on issues of poverty and hunger hounding the poor families in Negros Occidental.*NAB

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