General articles are free for 24 hours after publish.
Thousands Rally Ahead of President's SONA, Demanding Wage Hikes and Job Security
Thousands of protesters, including labor and youth groups, marched in the Philippines ahead of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.'s State of the Nation Address (SONA), demanding higher wages, job security, lower prices, and government accountability. While police maintained a heavy security presence, some arrests were reported.
Thousands of protesters from labor, youth, and other sectoral groups marched along Commonwealth Avenue on Monday, ahead of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), demanding higher wages, secure jobs, lower prices and greater government accountability. Police deployed more than 20,000 personnel for SONA security, while the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority assigned 1,481 personnel to manage traffic and emergencies. Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. said 51 protesters were arrested for violations of the Solid Waste Management Act, Public Assembly Act and local ordinances, while rights groups questioned the arrests. — Mark Joseph M. Sanchez
Original source
BusinessWorld Nation