Bayan criticizes additional P5 B to feeding program, says Arroyo only tries to appease People’s anger

MEDIA RELEASE

August 18, 2009

Davao City – Amidst the increases on the prices of basic commodities like rice and oil, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan slammed anew the move of the Arroyo administration’s additional budget for its palliative poverty reduction strategy “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program”.

“This is a just desperate attempt of the Arroyo regime to save its image after criticisms over the very luxurious meals it had at Le Cirque, New York and in Bobby Van’s Steak House which amounted to more than a million pesos easily spent,” according to Bayan spokesperson John Birondo.

“The additional P5 billion budget is like a candy given to the Filipino people hoping that this could be Arroyo’s way out of people’s anger. Is she trying to fool us? Mrs. Arroyo has the same pattern of actions every time she is confronted with issues and anomalies,” Birondo said.

“The program itself is palliative. It does not address the root cause of poverty which is landlessness. This administration is treating us like beggars when in fact the money it spends for the program is the people’s money,” he said.

“The isolated Arroyo administration is doomed to fail in its attempt to stop the people’s wrath. The Filipinos are already aware that under the present regime prioritization of the demands of the people is impossible.”

“What the people really wanted is for Gloria Arroyo to be ousted and for her to face the cases of anomalies, corruption and murder that she has committed against us,” Birondo said.