Progressive groups staged a protest against Ferdinand Marcos Jr and his wife Liza Araneta Marcos’ visit in Bacolod City on June 26. The groups under Bayan-Negros marched from Libertad Market to the University of Negros Occidental Recoletos (UNO-R), where Marcos was scheduled to distribute ₱10,000 each to over 8,000 farmers affected by El Niño in Negros Occidental.

They said the aid is just a “band-aid” solution to the problems in the island and is being done merely for the “pogi points” of the Marcos family.

They expressed their outrage with the regime and the myriad issues faced by Negrosanons. These include the jeepney phaseout issue, reclamation, and the formation of the island as one region.

Joining the protest were farmers from the National Federation of Sugar Workers who called for genuine land reform. They said thousands of farmers and farmworkers in the haciendas are now experiencing hunger, but the regime has done nothing to address their grievances.

Before the protesters could reach UNO-R, they were blocked by the police.