Inter-Agency Task Force on Emergency Socioeconomic Crisis Response

BY JADE G. GUMBAN, ROCHELLE ANN L. UBAUB & ALDRIN JAMES A. BOHOL/DNSC Interns

ANAKBAYAN Southern Mindanao Region held a picket rally on Friday, April 10, near Freedom Park to express their dissatisfaction with both the local and national government over the ongoing economic crisis.

Fauzhea Guiani, the spokesperson of Anakbayan SMR, said the lack of immediate action in providing cash relief assistance that would help address the daily needs of drivers, as well as the suspension of excise taxes, which they said contribute to rising prices and inflation.

“Karun nga panahon ang pinaka panginahanglan sa mga drayber, kabatan-onan og mga mamumuo kay ang immediate na cash relief assistance unta nga cash aid nga sakto nga motubag sa panginahanglan sa adlaw-adlaw sa mga drayber ug ang pag suspendi sa VAT ug sa excise tax nga maoy mga regressive taxes nga hinungdan nganong grabe ang patong o ang pagmahal sa mga presyo (In these times, what drivers, the youth, and workers need most is immediate cash relief assistance—cash aid that truly responds to their daily needs. They are also calling for the suspension of VAT and excise tax, which are regressive taxes that cause significant price increases),” Guiani said in a press statement.

She also expressed frustration over the ₱5,000 cash aid assistance program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for drivers.

“Sa nagkataas na palaliton ug grabe na pagpataw og buwis, insulto ang ₱5,000 ‘cash aid’ ni Marcos Jr. Sinsilyo lamang kini kumpara sa bilyones nga giwaldas sa mga flood control projects nga giingong naapil sa korapsyon sa iyang mga kaalyado (With rising prices and heavy taxes, the ₱5,000 cash aid from Marcos Jr. is an insult. It is only a small amount compared to the billions spent on flood control projects allegedly linked to corruption involving his allies),” she said.

Additionally, the group expressed dismay over Davao City Executive Order No. 7, Series of 2026, under the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emergency Socioeconomic Crisis Response (IATF-Crisis), describing it as performative for focusing mainly on reducing energy and fuel consumption.

“Performative ang pag-mugna ni Baste Duterte sa EO 07. Napaka-out of touch! Sobra isa ka bulan nang nag-antos ang mga Dabawenyos sa pagtaas sa presyo sa gasolina ug palaliton, unya hangtod karon kutob ra gihapon sa plano. Pagpaka-aron ingnon kini nga naay ginabuhat apan dili tinuod nga ginatubag ang ekonomikanhong panginahanglan sa katawhan (The creation of EO 07 by Baste Duterte is performative. It is very out of touch. For more than a month, Davaoeños have been suffering from rising fuel and commodity prices, yet it remains only a plan. It is merely pretending to act without truly addressing the economic needs of the people),” Guiani said.

Guiani also stated that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. received a “bagsak” (failure) rating from their group due to the lack of immediate action on the ongoing socioeconomic crisis in the country.

“Last year, July 2025, bagsak ang grade nga atong gihatag kay Marcos Jr. before sa iyang SONA, ug hangtod karon wala gihapon kini nabag-o. Bagsak gihapon ang presidente tungod kay wala pa niya natubag ang kinalamang panginahanglan sa katawhan (Last year in July 2025, we gave Marcos Jr. a failing grade before his SONA, and until now it has not changed. The president is still failing because he has not addressed the people’s most urgent needs),” she said.

She warned the government about the consequences of continuing to neglect the needs of the people.