President Arroyo promises better economic days, but experts warn the government does not have enough money to raise public servants' wages.

Manila (AsiaNews/Agencies) – More than 10,000 people marched through Manila's streets in two different May Day rallies against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her administration.

Thousands of soldiers and police officers wearing anti-riot gear were deployed in many parts of the capital to prevent demonstrators from joining together to form one single flow and reach the Presidential Palace

Army Chief Lieutenant General Generoso Senga said that the 120,000-strong Armed Forces backed the government and was ready to stop any attempt to topple the government

Congressman and former defence secretary Fortunato Abat, who on Saturday slammed Filipino political leaders, said his statement was not an incitement to revolt. None the less, he repeated his accusation that the government was inefficient and corrupt, and reiterated his call for its resignation.

In the meantime, trade unions complain that, despite rising prices of basic goods and services, the minimal wage is still at 280 pesos per day and demand an increase of 125 pesos (US$ 18).

A recent study by the Social Weather Station (Sws) indicated that hunger affected not only the unemployed (15.9 per cent of the population) but also the self-employed (13.2 per cent) as well as private sector (11.6 per cent) and public sector workers (6.4 per cent).

May Day gave Elmer Labog, a spokesperson for the Kilusang Mayo Uno or May 1st Movement, the opportunity to denounce the "political assassination" of 33 trade union workers by the military in 2005 and to demand "an explicit government commitment to stop these political murders".

For her part, President Arroyo in the army-protected Presidential Palace is studying a plan to raise the minimum wage and increase public sector wages.

She has also ordered her economic team to study a labour proposal to reduce the withholding tax.

However, analysts doubt that the government will be able to increase wages and will instead raise an additional 80 billion pesos in new taxes. (PB)

• philippines
• may
• day
• peaceful
• protests
• armed
• forces
• trade
• unions
• minimum
• wages
• corruption
• taxes
• government