BALANGA CITY, Bataan—The National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) has ruled with finality on its decision giving workers of the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) ownership of movable properties such as buildings and valuable scraps to cover their compensation worth P73 million, a workers’ representative said.
Maricon Dagson, who represent the 6,000 workers, said the NLRC has denied a motion for reconsideration filed by the Uniwide Scrap Traders Corp (USTC) and Marissa Cruz, who allegedly occupied the plant and hauled out 40 truckloads of valuable scraps and other materials.
“We are expecting USTC and Cruz and others involved to respect the law and heed the NLRC decision for the orderly transition at the BNPP,” Dagson said.
The NLRC awarded the workers P73 million in compensation, which will drive from sale of movable properties, which include buildings and other structures, and scrap materials.
USTC and Cruz took over possession of the plant in 2013 and allegedly hauled tons of copper and valuable scraps worth millions of pesos. The movable properties inside the plant were estimated at more than P400 million.
Dagson said a trial court in Balanga had ordered confiscation of all vehicles entering the plant and workers reported to the Bataan police the hauling activities but no action was taken against the haulers.
She said the former workers waited to be paid for almost three decades and many of them have died and others are sick because of old age and appealed on the police and concerned agencies to help them get what they deserve.
“We are concerned that in the end nothing will be left for the legitimate claimants,” she said.