Angry fishermen to hit the streets today

Fishermen from regions near Manila are moving to campaign for the ouster of President Arroyo.

Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said at least 1,000 of their members are set to abandon their work today to join a scheduled protest action against Arroyo.

Pamalakaya spokesperson Manolito Serrano said fishermen from Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon will troop to Mendiola today to call on Arroyo to step down from the presidency. "She’s a big disappointment, nothing more nothing less," Serrano said while accusing President Arroyo of engaging in a grand sell out of fishing waters and coastal areas for unhampered corporate takeover and exploitation at the expense of poor and marginalized people.

He further noted that Arroyo’s latest project providing for the reclamation of 1,500 hectares of Manila Bay’s shallow water for eco-tourism and industrial use is expected to displace 3,000 families from Cavite and parts of Metro Manila.

With her anti-poor policies, Pamalakaya vowed to join efforts for the immediate ouster of Arroyo.

The militant group will also call for the scrapping of the Purchased Power Adjustment (PPA) during their scheduled rally in Mendiola.

Also today, the militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) will lead communities in various parts of Manila in a one-hour lights out protest from 9 to 10 p.m. for the cancellation of the controversial PPA in electric bills.

KMU spokesperson Sammy Malunes said the Arroyo government should suspend the collection to prove its sincerity in resolving the problems affecting the power industry. – Mayen Jaymalin