by Karen Macalalad
Youth and student groups are set to join other sectoral organizations as protests intensify against the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting being held at the Philippine International Convention Center, Manila, on November 18 and 19.
Leaders from 21 countries including China and the United States (US) will discuss economic reforms and trade policies within the region. Early today, around 200 youth protesters held a lightning rally at the US Embassy along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City to condemn APEC-sponsored neoliberal policies implemented on education and basic services.
“In the past two decades, [these] policies resulted to the intensified enforcement of commercialization and deregulation, the twin-headed monsters that made education in the country vastly unaffordable and inaccessible for many,” said Kabataan Partylist Representative Terry Ridon.
These policies have resulted to the privatization of social services, affecting sectors like the indigenous Lumad whose this year’s protest caravan Manilakbayan has joined the protest against APEC, said Ben Galil Te, chair of the League of Filipino Students in UP Diliman.
Around 700 indigenous people staying in the Liwasang Bonifacio are set to participate in the APEC protests but were forced to leave the area on November 13, after Chief Supt. Rolando Nana of Manila Police Department (MPD) rejected their request to conduct a camp-out until November 23.
Nana said the camp-out will disrupt normal economic and social activity near the area, result to unsanitary environment, endanger public safety, and cause an unsightly scene. The Lumad have now relocated their camp-out to the Baclaran Redemptorist Church.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development also allegedly detained street dwellers, including 140 street children, in preparation for the arrival of APEC delegates, according to rights group Human Rights Watch.
The department implemented the same measure prior to Pope Francis’ state visit in January, where the homeless were treated to a week-long stay in private resorts as an effort to hide them from the foreign dignitary.
“Kahit tinatago ng gobyerno natin ‘yung mga mahihirap mula sa Maynila, handa pa ring sumama ang mga estudyante sa mga pagkilos para mapakita talaga natin kung ano ang totoong epekto ng mga palisiya sa bansa,” Te said.
Several commuters have expressed dismay at the government after being stuck in heavy traffic and being forced to walk the roads, after the government closed major roads in Quezon City and Pasay City to give way for the vehicles of APEC delegates.
The protest tomorrow is expected to bring in a crowd of 400 from universities such as UP, University of Santo Tomas, and De La Salle University, according to estimates by LFS.
“Inaasahan natin na maraming ibang sektor na manggaling pa [sa] iba’t ibang rehiyon ng Pilipinas [na] pupunta ng Maynila, [dahil] buong bansa natin ay apektado sa mga pinag-uusapan sa APEC,“ Te said.
This post has been updated as of 11:59 PM, 17th November.