In the wake of skyrocketing rice prices across the country, urban poor group Kadamay demands the immediate reallocation of all Confidential and Intelligence Funds (CIFs) to necessary food subsidy aimed at lowering the price of rice to up to P35/kg.
According to Kadamay, the reallocation of CIFs to social protection programs would provide much-needed relief to consumers and rice farmers alike. The group also calls for the urgently needed substantial minimum wage increase across the country to keep up with the inflation.
“Bakit tila natitiis ng pamahalaan ni Marcos Jr na magdusa at magutom ang sambayanan lalo ang mga maralita sa patuloy na nagtataasang presyo ng bigas?” said Mimi Doringo, Kadamay National Secretary-General. “Atat na atat pa magpataba ng bulsa mula sa mga Confidential and Intelligence Funds na mas mainam sana kung nagagamit para sa mga kagyat at mas mahahalagang pangangailangan ng mga mahihirap.”
The urgency for swift action comes as poor Filipinos, particularly workers, still struggle to make ends meet in the aftermath of the pandemic. The looming specters of rising inflation, surging oil prices, and increasing food costs only serve to compound the hardships experienced by urban poor and marginalized communities.
“Wala namang magrereklamo sa presyo ng pagkain kung sumasapat ang kinikita at ang sinasahod ng mga mahihirap. Wala nang bago sa ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ ni Marcos Jr — wala pa ring paki ang pamahalaan sa kapakanan ng mga mahihirap. Ipinagpapatuloy lang niya ang legacy ng kanyang pamilya na legacy ng pandarambong at pagpapahirap sa taumbayan,” added Doringo.
