Senator Grace Poe and Makabayan Coalition President Satur Ocampo. (Photo from Facebook account of Grace Poe/davaotoday.com file photo by Ace R. Morandante )
TAGUM CITY— The Makabayan coalition slammed on Saturday, March 19, Senator Grace Poe for pushing what the group described as “neoliberal economic agenda.”
“Sen. Poe’s statements merely echo the platforms of all the other presidential bets that encourage foreign investments and promote “free trade”. These are essentially the same economic programs implemented by former presidents Marcos, Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, Arroyo and Aquino III that have kept our people poor and our country underdeveloped,” said Makabayan Coalition President Satur Ocampo.
The Makabayan Coalition has issued the statement in reaction to Poe’s statement after she announced at the Makati Business Club that she would push for the signing of more free trade agreements and open up foreign ownership in public utilities, media and education through constitutional change.
‘Neoliberal policies anti poor’
The progressive coalition warned that such policies have already “harmed the poor and prevented the country from industrializing.”
“It is alarming that all presidential bets are pushing for the very same policies that have allowed foreign banks and corporations and their partner oligarchs in the country to reap super profits at the expense of our people and the environment,” Ocampo stressed.
Ocampo also urged Poe to reconsider her position on charter change and to continue to hear all sides and sectors that have been adversely affected by the trade and investment liberalization, privatization, and deregulation policies of the past and present governments.
“If Sen. Poe is serious in developing local industries, improving agriculture, creating more jobs and raising incomes, as well as providing better and cheaper utilities and services, we suggest that she consider reversing the neoliberal economic policies of her predecessors and pursue a more patriotic and pro-people economic agenda,” he said.
Makabayan endorsed Poe, Escudero in 2015
It can be recalled that the progressive coalition had endorsed both Senator Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero for 2016 election in November 2015.
Makabayan had supported the Poe-Escudero tandem because they “expressed their commitments to at least nine programs of government that the group said would beneficial to the masses and the country.”
The progressive coalition is composed of the Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kabataan, Courage, Migrante, ACT-Teachers, Katribu, Akap Bata, Piston, Kalikasan at Aking Bikolnon. (davaotoday.com)
