Various groups, including Gabriela Women’s Party, gathered in front of Litex Public Market during the observation of World Food Day on Wednesday to protest the privatization of public markets.
The groups held a noise barrage, denouncing increasing costs and limited access to affordable food as among the effects of public market privatization on Filipino vendors, producers, and consumers.“With their circumstances already poor, they will further shoulder the burden of higher rent on their stalls. In turn, they will raise the price of products, and consumers will complain. It’s so hard on our everyday citizens,” Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas said in Filipino.
The lawmaker said that public-private partnerships are threatening more markets across the country, potentially leading to monopolies that could drive out smaller enterprises from business. Brosas, along with ACT-Teachers Rep. France Castro and Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel, previously filed a resolution urging the House Committee on Local Government to conduct an investigation in aid of legislation on the privatization of public markets in the Philippines.