Women’s groups welcomed the month of March with demands that “skyrocketing prices of rice and basic commodities” should be arrested as these severely impact Filipino women and their families.
Gabriela Women’s Party (GWP) and women’s groups federation Gabriela said their demand for concrete steps from the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government to stop price hikes in basic food items is the centerpiece of their commemoration of International Women’s Month.
“We highlight the hardships experienced by Filipino women who struggle daily to put food on the table amid unabated price increases. Ang mga kababaihan ang unang nakakaramdam ng kagutuman kapag hindi sapat ang budget para sa pamilya,” Rep. Arlene Brosas said. (Women are the first to suffer hunger when the family is economically hard up.)
The women’s sector lawmaker pointed out that despite government claims of economic growth, ordinary Filipino families continue to suffer from the high cost of living, with rice prices remaining at P50-P60 per kilo in many markets nationwide.
“The economic crisis falls heaviest on women’s shoulders. Sila ang nagbabalanse ng kakarampot na budget, sila ang nagtitiis ng gutom para may makain ang kanilang mga anak. This Women’s Month, we demand genuine economic relief through concrete measures like removing burdensome taxes on basic goods,” Brosas emphasized. (They are the ones who try to make ends meet, the first to deny themselves just so their children may eat first.)
GWP said he immediate junking of the Value Added Tax (VAT) and excise taxes on essential commodities are needed.
They said both are regressive taxes that disproportionately burden poor and working-class families.
“We demand the scrapping of the 12% VAT on electricity, water, and other basic services. Hindi na makatarungan na patuloy na pinapasan ng mga kababaihan at kanilang pamilya ang mabigat na buwis habang binibigyan naman ng tax incentives ang malalaking korporasyon,” Gabriela Women’s Party’s first nominee Sarah Elago said. (It is unjust that women are burdened by these taxes while big corporations are being given all sorts of tax incentives.)
GWP emphasized that women empowerment cannot be achieved without addressing poverty and other fundamental issues of our society.
“The Marcos Jr. administration must prioritize people’s welfare over profit. Lowering the prices of rice and basic goods is not just an economic issue but a matter of social justice, especially for Filipino women who bear the brunt of this crisis,” Elago concluded.
Elago and Brosas was joined by women Makabayan senate bets Lisa Maza and Amirah Lidasan in their press conference in downtown Manila. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
