By By Juliane Judilla
In a press conference on Tuesday, March 12, progressive candidates from the Makabayan Coalition voiced strong opposition to the ongoing privatization of public utilities and social services, a pressing issue faced by many Ilonggos.
Makabayan senatorial candidates Rep. Arlene Brosas, Mody Floranda, Mimi Doringo, Amirah Lidasan, Gabriela Women’s Party first nominee Sarah Elago, along with Bayan Muna’s seventh nominee Irma Espinosa, Kabataan Party-list’s ninth nominee Crimson Labinghisa, and Gabriela Women’s Party seventh nominee Lucy Francisco, highlighted the continuing struggles of the people of Panay Island. Their statements followed a series of sorties and sectoral consultations in transport and urban poor communities, specifically in Guimbal, Leganes, and Iloilo City.
During the press con, the candidates pointed out that the privatization of public services has only made essential utilities less accessible and more expensive for ordinary citizens. They raised concerns over the rising costs of electricity and water, with the electricity sector being dominated by private monopolies. They also voiced their concerns about the ongoing development of the Iloilo International Airport, which they claim is being privatized in favor of wealthy corporations like the Villar family.
“One of the most glaring issues that our communities face today is the privatization of our basic utilities and services. From electricity, which is now owned by private entities, to the increasing difficulty of accessing healthcare and transportation services, it is clear that privatization has made life harder for the people of Iloilo,” said Sarah Elago of Gabriela Women’ Party.
Candidates also called out the privatization of the two major markets in Iloilo City, noting that such moves only benefit large corporations, further marginalizing the working class and impoverished communities.
Urban poor leader Mimi Doringo, stressed that the privatization of the Central and Super Markets, under the guise of rehabilitation perpetuated by the city government through Public-Private Partnership (PPP), is a clear example of how public resources are being handed over to large corporations at the expense of ordinary Ilonggos. She also pointed out the cost of rent in securing a small space inside the market.
“Vendors are already feeling the strain, as the dislocation and rearrangement of the markets have led to significant losses in their income [but] the rental fees are expected to rise sharply after two years,” Doringo said.
“The urban poor sector has long fought for the lives and rights of these ambulant vendors who rely on these markets for their livelihoods and they are already suffering, and the promise of temporary rental freezes only masks the larger issue: these privatization schemes will lead to higher costs for them and a loss of public access to essential services,” she added.
Meanwhile, transport leader Mody Floranda called out the implications of the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) in Iloilo City, almost one year after its implementation. Floranda said that cooperatives are in crisis, drivers endure late payment of salaries and diminished income for drivers and operators.
“The livelihood of drivers is declining because they really can’t afford to pay for the cost of minibuses,” Floranda said.
“If we want public transport, it would have been better if the government supported the nationalization and localization of the transport sector, but the government has instead supported foreign investors,” he added.
The candidates pledged to work toward protecting public utilities from privatization and to champion the people’s right to affordable and accessible social services. They emphasized that the needs of the people must take precedence over corporate interests, with public services being essential to the welfare of all.
As they continue their campaign across Panay Island, the Makabayan Coalition remains firm in their commitment to ensuring that public services remain in the hands of the people and are not turned into profit-driven ventures for private corporations./PT
