NAGA CITY—Farmers who gathered in this city on Sunday, Sept. 21, called for a fairer distribution of subsidies, as they also called for government accountability amid allegations of misused and stolen funds for public works projects.
Voices rise in Naga City as progressive groups take the streets, demanding justice, accountability, and a future where people’s rights come first. | photo by Alexa Orbaña, BicoldotPH Voices rise in Naga City as progressive groups take the streets, demanding justice, accountability, and a future where people’s rights come first. | photo by Alexa Orbaña, BicoldotPH Voices rise in Naga City as progressive groups take the streets, demanding justice, accountability, and a future where people’s rights come first. | photo by Alexa Orbaña, BicoldotPH Voices rise in Naga City as progressive groups take the streets, demanding justice, accountability, and a future where people’s rights come first. | photo by Alexa Orbaña, BicoldotPH Voices rise in Naga City as progressive groups take the streets, demanding justice, accountability, and a future where people’s rights come first. | photo by Alexa Orbaña, BicoldotPH 
Voices rise in Naga City as progressive groups take the streets, demanding justice, accountability, and a future where people’s rights come first. | photo by Alexa Orbaña, BicoldotPH
Holding placards with various calls, farmers and other groups from various sectors raised their voices against anomalous flood control projects, media harassment, political dynasties, and the rights of farmers, women, and youth, among others.
Marites Cello of Damayan nin Paraoma Camarines Sur, said their group joined the protest to denounce the alleged misuse of funds meant for flood control projects by corrupt politicians, which she said greatly affects farmers.
“We farmers receive only a small percentage of the budget from the Department of Agriculture (DA). For small-scale farmers like us, almost no subsidies reach us,” Cello said.
She also recalled when Naga City was struck by storm Kristine (international name: Trami) in 2025, leaving communities submerged in floodwaters.
This, she explained, is one of the reasons why their group is calling the attention of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) contractors and those involved in the scandal, particularly Bicolano politicians and congressmen such as former Senate President Chiz Escudero and Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co.
“To those crocodiles out there, you should be subsidizing the farmers,” Cello appealed.
Talking to BicoldotPH, she further stressed that the government is to blame for the country’s flooding problem, citing the continued practice of illegal logging and quarrying.
“My call is to fix our country because the Philippines is an agricultural nation. Provide proper subsidies for farmers. Let’s work together to make our country better and put an end to quarrying and illegal logging,” she said.
Among the groups that joined and gave messages were Kabataan Partylist CamSur, ADNU for Palestine, College Editors Guild of the Philippines Bicol, Damayan ng mga Paraoma (Dampa), UP Alumni Association, Karapatan Bicol, Nungka, Bayan Muna Partylist Camarines Sur, Jovenes Anakbayan Naga City, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT Teachers) Bicol, Gabriela Women’s Party, Bunyog Pagkakaisa Partylist, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Bicol, and the student publication The Pillars.
The protest coincided with the commemoration of the 53rd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.
(raro)
