NEWS RELEASE

November 28, 2006

GMA is definitely healthier than her critics

Good health, secured jobs and shelter not on urban poor's vocabulary-- KADAMAY

Manila-- Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) Chairperson Carmen Nanay Mameng Deunida, a staunch critic of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, sarcastically agreed to the statement made by Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye that the president is "healthier" than most of her critics.



Hindi kaduda-duda na mas malusog siya dahil kaming mga mahihirap na lalong naghihirap sa ilalim ng kanyang administrasyon ay hindi lamang nilulugmok ng pagkakasakit, kawalan ng serbisyong pangkalusugan kundi dulot na rin ng malawakang kawalan ng trabaho at patuloy na demolisyon sa aming mga tahanan," Deunida furiously said as another 300 families in Brgy. 169 in Malibay, Pasay today faces violent demolition. Deunida said that good health, secured jobs and homes are not on the urban poor's vocabulary.

As thousands of Filipinos have experienced unprecedented demolition under the present administration due to the modernization and privatization of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) and other so-called development projects of the government, recent surveys have indicated high figures of nationwide hunger due to widespread unemployment. Based on the recent SWS survey, almost 2.9 million Filipino families have nothing to eat.

"Pero hindi mapipigilan ng kondisyon sa aming kalusugan at kabuhayan ang aming paglaban sa Tsunano sa Malakanyang," the urban poor leader asserted. Deunida herself is facing a weak health but remains the strongest nemesis of the present administration's anti-poor policies.###