LONG lines of vehicles snake through a street in Calinan, Davao City.
These vehicles are part of a movement conveying a message to those in power, especially in Metro Manila, that the people of Davao are not for sale.
“Our Davao is genuinely not for sale. Davaoeños are not for sale,” according to Juanito Anovallo, Davao Resident.
A caravan, consisting of volunteers from Calinan heading to Rizal Park in downtown Davao, carries a united front against what they label as the covert People’s Initiative (PI) to amend the 1987 Constitution.
Particularly, they condemn the offering of money and aid in exchange for signatures for Charter Change (Cha-cha).
And this is what happened upon reaching Rizal Park.
According to United Village Captains of Calinan District, people willingly joined the demonstration.
“That’s why, Sir, we stood up, the people of Calinan District. This is the true People’s Initiative, where we, ordinary citizens, took steps,” according to Brgy. Capt. James Cinco, Subasta, Davao City.
Even members of the Indigenous Peoples community in Davao City joined to assert their opposition to the actions of politicians at the national level.
“They voluntarily came here because they know Davaoenos. Davaoenos are different, even though we live in the mountains. Calinan District is more than just a mountain. Do you understand what ‘bukid’ means? From the countryside! But even though Calinan District is from the countryside, we are a testament that even if we are from the countryside, we are not money-faced,” according to Brgy. Capt. Cresente Canada, Tamayong, Davao City.
The village leaders in Calinan assured that they would never accept money in exchange for Cha-cha.
They also hope to set an example for fellow citizens by standing up for the truth and not succumbing to assistance.
Even when the price for a signature is cash assistance from Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), and other government dole-out programs.
“I will slap them with that AICS. How much? Three thousand AICS? I’ll slap them with ten thousand!” according to Brgy. Capt. Glenn Escovilla, Megkawayan, Davao City.
