“Liza Maza will be the most competent, principled and people-oriented NAPC chief who will genuinely address poverty as she herself is deeply rooted in the people’s movement fighting for the rights and welfare of the most impoverished sectors of the country, including fisherfolk,” Pamalakaya said in a statement.
Pamalakaya noted that Maza was a former congresswoman representing the Gabriela women’s partylist and a co-convenor of the broad alliance, Pilipinong Nagkakaisa Para sa Soberanya. She is also “a longtime colleague in the pursuit of national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it said.
The fisherfolk group expressed hopes that under Maza, “NAPC will take the fisherfolk to the center stage of its priorities, the sector being the country’s poorest among the poor sector.”
“We hope that NAPC will address the ongoing plight of the fishers. Fishers have been denied just government support under Aquino regime,” Salvador France, Pamalakaya vice-chairperson said.
This, even as Pamalakaya sought investigation of various fisherfolk non-government organizations established during the term of Rocamora.
“Who comprise these organizations? Are these fisherfolk organizations genuinely helping the poor fishers or are these fund-based organizations that serve as conduits of officials, to rip off government funds intended for the betterment and welfare of the fisherfolk?” France asked.
Pamalakaya alleged that “former NAPC head Rocamora is among the Cabinet members of former President Aquino whose net worth has doubled from P15.65 million in 2014 to P27.44 million in 2015.”
“The sudden soar of Rocamora’s net worth is mind boggling. Former anti-poverty czar’s wealth had doubled while chronic poverty is still prevalent and unresolved. We are yearning to know the truth behind Rocamora’s mysterious wealth,” France said.
Pamalakaya said it is ready to help Maza in the “formulation of genuine poverty-alleviation programs that will truly address the long running poverty among the Filipino people.”
