12/10/2026
𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐌𝐅-𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫!
Gabriela Youth, alongside allied anti-imperialist organizations, staged a protest in Mendiola to condemn the opening of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Bangkok, Thailand. The organizations denounced neoliberal policies that have deepened poverty, weakened local industries, and burdened Filipinos with debt.
Since the 1980s, IMF and World Bank-backed economic restructuring, including agricultural liberalization, oil deregulation, the privatization of essential services, labor flexibilization, and regressive taxation which has shaped the Philippine economy. Gabriela Youth condemned these policies for worsening the cost of living, undermining local production, and intensifying the exploitation of workers.
“Development cannot mean higher profits for foreign creditors while Filipino families struggle to afford food, electricity, water, and education. A system that prioritizes debt and foreign interests over people’s needs is not development—it is exploitation,” said Fran Reyes, national spokesperson of Gabriela Youth.
The group also criticized the Philippines’ continued dependence on foreign borrowing. While the country stopped borrowing from the IMF in 2006, the institution continues to influence economic policymaking through its assessments. The World Bank remains a major multilateral lender to the Philippines.
Under the Marcos Jr. administration, national government debt reached ₱19.61 trillion as of August 2026. Gabriela Youth questioned why mounting debt and substantial tax collections have failed to translate into meaningful improvements in people’s lives.
“Hindi dapat ang mamamayan ang laging nagbabayad sa utang na hindi naman nila nararamdamang nagdudulot ng tunay na pag-unlad,” Reyes said.
“Hindi kami papayag na ang mamanahin ng kabataang kababaihan ay utang, kahirapan, at pagsasamantala. Lalaban kami para sa kinabukasang may dignidad at tunay na kalayaan,” Reyes added.
Women, particularly those from poor and working-class communities, bear the brunt of rising food prices, low wages, insecure employment, and inadequate public services. As essential goods and services become more expensive, women face greater pressure to provide for their families while shouldering unpaid care work.
“Young women are not blind to who profits from our suffering. We see our mothers struggling to put food on the table, women losing access to basic services, and young people being denied their right to education. We protest because we refuse to inherit a future of poverty and exploitation. We must break the chains of imperialism!” Reyes emphasized.
Gabriela Youth stressed that young women are not merely victims of exploitation but also a fighting force against imperialism and neoliberalism. Together with workers, peasants, and other oppressed sectors, young women must fight for national sovereignty, living wages, accessible social services, and an end to imperialist plunder.
Resist imperialist plunder! Shut down the IMF and World Bank!
