Crisis, Hunger Loom as P-Noy Refuses to face High Prices Head On

“President Aquino’s lethargic attitude in the midst of poverty and inflation will trigger a crisis situation of hunger and malnutrition. It is high time for this administration to take concrete action to mitigate increases in the prices of food, oil and basic commodities.”

Thus said Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan on International Working Women’s Day as she joined women’s calls for the Aquino government to uphold women’s demands for jobs, land and social services.

Ilagan particularly pointed out that the unabated oil price hikes since January has the potential of bringing about runaway inflation and criticized government attempts to downplay the effects of high prices especially on the Filipino families' access to food. “Inflation already hit a nine-month high in February at 4.3%. As it is, these increases in the price of rice, bread, cooking oil, sugar and milk are already unbearable for the majority of Filipino families.”

“Filipino women and children are going hungry. 2008 National Nutrition Survey shows the extent of malnutrition in our country. About 3.35 million Filipino children ages 0 to 5 are underweight; 3.57 million are short in height for their age. The United Nations has identified the Philippines to be among the top 20 countries identified to have 80% of the world's stunted pre-school children.”

Addressing the women’s day rally in Manila, Ilagan stressed how it is always the women, who are often forced to make sacrifices when families are faced by crises. “Ang karamihan ng pamilyang Pilipino ay hindi na kumakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw, hindi pa ba kikilos ang pamahalaan para bigyan man lang ng kaunting ginhawa at alwan ang maraming pamilya? Dapat maunawaan ng pamahalaang Aquino na mahirap nang magalit ang taong gutom.”

The Gabriela solon said that women’s demands for price control, wage increases and jobs are but just, simple and doable. “It is time to take action.” ###