Joint Statement on the 34th G8 Summit in Tōyako, Hokkaidō, Japan
Citing the national food summit as a “useless” move to solve the looming rice crisis in the country, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) pushed, instead, for the abolition of the rice cartel and the approval of House Bill 3059 or the genuine agrarian reform bill. “Walang kuwenta ang food summit dahil hindi ito ang solusyon sa krisis ng bigas [The food summit is useless because this is not the solution to the rice crisis],” Ka Tonying Flores, auditor of KMP, said Friday.
FARMERS, FISHERMEN, OTHERS WANT ARROYO OUT (tags)
Protesters carrying effigies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, US President Bush, former Philippines Agriculture Secretary Luisito Lorenzo and Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes blocked Quezon Avenue in Manila, causing a traffic jam Thursday afternoon. "Hunger is spreading like wildfire. There is massive corruption in all agencies of the government and genuine land reform has not been implemented," said Danilo Ramos of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.