The Left coalition SANLAKAS conducted a noisy mass action early this evening in support of the upcoming ‘National Day of Protest (NDP)’ against high electricity rates and the privatization of the power industry on October 11, 2011. Over eighty mass activists of the progressive organization held their lively mass action at the Philcoa commercial area in Quezon City for more than one hour before self-dispersing peacefully.

The highlight of this protest rally was a ten-minute noise barrage in the middle of the busy commercial center. Afterward, a short program was held with several of the group’s mass leaders speaking out against the high power-rates and the EPIRA, while members of the activist group held aloft lighted candles which glowed amidst the early evening darkness.

Rasti Delizo, the SANLAKAS Spokesperson who led the rally, also spoke during the program.  In his short speech he basically lambasted the capitalist ruling class in the Philippines for imposing neoliberal laws and policies that privatize certain economic areas, such as the power sector.  He, likewise, called for the repeal of the EPIRA by Congress and for the enactment of a new power law that would ensure that the Philippine power industry comes under the future control of the consumers themselves.

According to Delizo, “SANLAKAS now principally views the PNoy Regime as an enemy of the Philippine working class.  Because he does not consider the poor masses as his bosses at all, except only whenever he wants his public persona to look good and acceptable to the social majority, his corporatocratic regime can never be expected to stand firmly on the side of our exploited and oppressed masses.  Thus, the reactionary PNoy Regime will not bother at all to de-privatize our power industry and will continue to maintain the EPIRA through his dominant parliamentary faction inside the House of Representatives.  After all, PNoy and his political allies are mainly in government to make profits and not to serve the masses.”

The NDP, which will be nationally-coordinated exactly one week from today, will be highlighted by simultaneous ‘Power-off actions’ at 7:30-8p.m. on the same day in Luzon, the Visayas, Mindanao, and in the National Capital Region (NCR).  A Power-off action will basically be a thirty-minute shutting down of electricity power in selected communities and areas.  This national mass campaign was organized by the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) of which SANLAKAS is a member-organization.

SANLAKAS-PRESS RELEASE
4 October 2011
RASTI DELIZO (cellphone# 0999-8092461)
SANLAKAS Spokesperson

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SANLAKAS
115-D Roosevelt Avenue, Quezon City
Tel. No. (63) 415-9400