MAY 1 ANTI-GMA PROTEST WILL

ONLY BRING DOWN RP ECONOMY

Administration Congressman Prospero Nograles today said the various groups who are now mobilizing to amass support for the Labor Day protest will not succeed in bringing down the Arroyo government but would only cause further damage on the Philippine economy.

“Those who are behind this May 1 protest which is aimed at undermining the present government will achieve nothing. It’s the economy that would surely suffer,” Nograles said.  

“ If President Arroyo cannot effectively run the government, I don’t see anyone who can,” he added.

            Nograles pointed out that the call for President Arroyo’s ouster which is expected to culminate on May 1 will fail to succeed because of the absence of a better alternative to the present administration and the clashing interests of those who are behind the protest action.

            “In case they succeed in bring down the present administration, who will lead the government? Do we have a better alternative? Besides, those who have apparently joined forces to mobilize in the May 1 protest are strange bedfellows who have contradicting interests,” he said.

            Nograles lamented that the relentless protests against President Arroyo and the chronic coup rumors are disrupting the various economic and social programs of the government.

             Instead of engaging in protest actions that is directed in undermining the presidency, Nograles said President Arroyo’s critics should focus their efforts on how to mobilize people’s participation in programs that could help in nation building.           

“Can you imagine if they could help mobilize thousands of people who could help in our reforestation projects or in similar environmental campaigns? I’m sure we’d be able to replant all our denuded forests in no time,” Nograles said.