DAVAO CITY — Bayan Muna negated here today the recent pronouncement of Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of posting the alleged highest economic growth in 20 years saying that the �fake president is at it again, executing a grand sham design to divert public animosity over the new revelations of the Hello Garci scandal.�

�What growth? The people are poorer than ever. Statistics indicating a high gross domestic product yield do not reflect the genuine conditions of our people,�Bayan Muna national executive committee vice-president Joel G. Virador said.

In fact, 76.8% of respondents of a survey by the independent think-tank IBON last July 2007 said they thought of themselves as poor. The survey also revealed that 44.35% of respondents said that there were not enough available jobs/livelihood opportunities in their area and 32.66% said there were none.

Furthermore, Bayan Muna cites IBON study on the purported rise in the 2nd quarter GDP as �artificial and short term� since the figures reflect the increased election spending, with the government spending amounting to an outrageous P101.4 billion.

Virador noted �about 69 million Filipinos or 80% of the population live with less than P96 daily income and more than 46 million Filipinos experience hunger everyday.�

He said that �more than 40% of the population in the urban centers dwells in communities without housing facilities and basic social services.�

�All that the Arroyo administration can show as basis of economic growth is the improvement in the country�s infrastructure. These buildings and highways have not fed the millions of poor families all over the country and cannot be effective gauge for the country�s real economic growth,� Virador added. ###

For reference:

Joel G. Virador Lito Campo
Vice-president Information Officer
Bayan Muna National Executive Committee Bayan Muna – SMR
Contact # : 09209607108 Contact #: 09205203635

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