KMU lambasts Speaker Nograles “living simply” and “use resources of government judiciously and wisely” speech

Amid P90 million inital cost for Batasang Pambansa complex renovation

“ Living simply is obviously not spending an initial P90 million just for the renovation of the Batasang complex for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s 8th State of the Nation Address (SONA). Is this what Speaker Nograles mean of recognizing the “heightened sense of poverty and vulnerability” in the country then we are doom. How cruel and hypocrite Speaker Nograles can get?”

House Speaker Prospero Nograles Jr. in his speech this morning which opened the second session of the 14th Congress told the congressmen “Let us inspire our people. Let us live simply. But let us all work hard. And most of all, let us use resources of government judiciously and wisely.”

Kilusang Mayo Uno Spokesperson Prestoline Suyat also added that Speaker Nograles’ double talk and the House leadership’s decision on the extravagant renovation only prove their alienation from their constituents.

“It is the height of insensitivity and callousness on the part of the House leadership to spend millions and millions of pesos for the SONA of PGMA now that we are experiencing one of the worst economic crisis that befell our country. How can they explain this to our countrymen who are suffering so much especially those who brave the scorching heat of the sun, lining up in a long queue everyday just to buy a few kilos of NFA rice for their families? “ Suyat opined.

“It is no wonder that politicians including our congressmen are caricatured as alligators dressed in suits and barong tagalog. They are supposedly representatives of the people. It is very scandalous that they lavishly spend so much to project that we are a developing country and purportedly to restore the institutional dignity of the House when majority of our people are mired in extreme poverty and exploitation, “ Suyat said.

Suyat challenged Speaker Nograles and the congressmen that if they really wanted to inspire the Filipino people and serve them sincerely, they can do it by immediately passing the P125 legislated wage hike bill and the bills calling for the repeal of the VAT law and the Oil Deregulation Law.