WORKERS belonging to the newly formed labor alliance Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa or PAGGAWA will commemorate Labor Day with traditional activities and use the occasion to air their demands on the issues affecting working-class families, the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino or BMP said Sunday.
The groups will converge at the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, today, Labor Day, at 8 a.m. before marching toward Mendiola Bridge where they will hold their program.
In other developments:
• President Rodrigo Duterte will lead Labor Day celebrations at the People’s Park in Davao City, where he is expected to speak at 4:30 p.m.
Before that, Duterte will be visiting the Chinese guided missile destroyer Chang Chun (DDG 150) that is docked at the Davao City port.
In Manila, there will be a job fair for workers at the Quezon City Circle that Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III is expected to attend.
• Senator Loren Legarda on Sunday paid tribute and pledged support to the millions of Filipino workers all over the world on the eve of Labor Day.
She cited their significant contribution to the Philippines’ economy and overall development.
“The celebration of Labor Day is a recognition of the important role that our workers play in the development of our country,” Legarda said.
“I salute our workforce for their sacrifices and significant contribution to our economy. Our country will not function without them. We should address their concerns and protect their fundamental rights.”
PAGGAWA said it will assert the revocation of Department Order 174 that allegedly perpetuates and legalizes the abusive practice of contractual employment, the immediate termination of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III as Cabinet secretary and the demand that President Rodrigo Duterte sign the draft Executive Order submitted by the BMP in November last year that will prohibit all forms of contractualization.
The BMP aside, PAGGAWA is composed of the Association of Genuine Labor Organizations and National Federation of Labor Unions, Solidarity of Unions in the Philippines for Empowerment and Reform Federation and Metro East Labor Federation.
Leody de Guzman, BMP president, declined the invitation of the President to join him in Davao on Labor Day. With John Paolo Bencito and Macon Ramos-Araneta