Progressive groups to hold 'People's SONA' protests

Progressive groups and civil society organizations are preparing to hold protests and various initiatives to highlight pressing issues during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22.

Under the banner of 'People's SONA,' organizations like Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) will march along Commonwealth Avenue to voice concerns about inflation, wages, the West Philippine Sea dispute, and human rights.

As of Monday morning, approximately 800 members of Bayan Southern Tagalog staged a protest and displayed an effigy of President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte near Diliman Doctors Hospital.

Protesters plan to use a giant ball labeled 'Binobolang Pilipinas', and despite the prohibition, burned an effigy of President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte to mark the conclusion of their 'People's SONA'.

The PNP will deploy 23,000 personnel to Metro Manila to ensure public safety, with Commonwealth Avenue designated as a no-rally zone, though protesters are permitted up to Tandang Sora.

Bayan ST leaders raised issues concerning Southern Tagalog and assessed the status of the country's economy, agriculture, and labor sectors in their People's SONA.

Bayan ST spokesperson Kyle Salgado stated that social ills like imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat-capitalism continue to plague the country, contradicting Marcos Jr.'s promises, and noted his leaning towards the US while being intimidated by China.