Gains not felt by Filipinos - Bayan

MANILA, Philippines - Most of the accomplishments said by President Benigno Aquino III during his 5th State of the Nation Address are not felt by majority of Filipinos, according to the militant group Bayan.

Bayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. said the so-called gains of the Aquino administration governing under the principle of "Daang Matuwid" (straight path) are felt by ordinary Filipinos.

"A lot was said about how things have changed. How we're supposedly ready for take off. A lot of it are not felt by the ordinary Filipino," Reyes said in his reaction to the SONA speech of Aquino before Congress on Monday.

During the rally at Commonwealth Avenue, Reyes estimated that around 17,000 protesters joined and expressed their discontent with the Aquino administration.

Authorities. however,  said there were only 7,000 protesters along the highway.

After a program near a shopping mall in the area, protesters torched an effigy of Aquino as "holDAPer" in reference to the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program of the government.

Rallyists tried to break through the police barricade but were prevented by a phalanx of anti-riot cops.