As the country faces challenging economic pressures, President Marcos vowed to boost workers’ protection and opportunities as well as create more and better jobs for Filipinos.
Marcos, however, did not provide details on how he intended to pursue these objectives, and did not announce a wage increase as demanded by organized workers, as he led the observance of Labor Day this year.
“Today, we honor every member of our workforce whose hands carry the weight of our shared future – whether at sunrise, beneath the noonday heat or in the long hours when the nation sleeps,” the President said.
Despite continued advances in technology that transform industries, Marcos stressed that “one truth endures: it is the Filipino worker who drives the Philippines forward and keeps the world in motion.”
“Through your grit and sacrifice, families find stability and the country finds strength. You are, and will always be, the backbone of our Republic,” the Chief Executive said.
The President committed to further improving the condition of Filipino workers, with the help of the private sector, amid economic shocks.
“Thus, this day must be more than an observance. It must reaffirm the commitment of both the government and the private sector to build a country where hard work is rewarded and opportunity is real,” he said.
“Together, let us fulfill this promise by fostering an environment that respects honest labor, safeguards livelihoods and ensures that progress is accessible to ordinary families,” Marcos said.
“As we face changing economic pressures, rest assured that this administration stands firm in defending the dignity of every Filipino by creating more and better jobs, boosting worker protection and broadening pathways for all to succeed,” he added.
“With you at the heart of our agenda, a stronger, more equitable and more hopeful Bagong Pilipinas is well within reach,” Marcos said.
The President attended the 124th Labor Day “Disenteng Trabaho Para sa Lahat” Job Fair in General Santos City.
In his speech, Marcos said the government has secured nearly P2 trillion in investments that would generate about 150,000 jobs nationwide.
Sacrifice
Sen. Bong Go joined the nation in honoring Filipino workers on Labor Day, as he recognized their contribution to families, communities and the country’s continued development.
Go said the occasion serves as an opportunity to recognize the daily sacrifices of workers across different sectors, including employees, laborers, overseas Filipino workers, informal workers, transport workers, farmers, fisherfolk and small entrepreneurs who continue to provide for their families despite economic challenges.
“This Labor Day, I salute every Filipino worker. You are the strength of our families, our communities and our country,” Go said.
The senator said workers deserve not only recognition but also practical support that helps them meet their basic needs, protect their health and secure stable sources of income.
He emphasized that government programs must remain accessible, especially for poor and vulnerable workers who often face difficulty seeking assistance during emergencies.
Senators yesterday lauded the country’s labor force for their contributions to the economy as they called for better working conditions and government assistance.
Sen. Bam Aquino urged the government to expand its assistance to the working and middle class – comprising 80 percent of the Filipino population – who struggle with the high fuel and basic commodity prices.
Sen. Kiko Pangilinan said he supports bills to increase workers’ wages to help them cope with the fallout from the Middle East crisis. He said it is only just to give laborers a living wage for their efforts.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, for her part, went to Lipa, Batangas to visit the Philippine Metalworkers’ Alliance on Labor Day. Hontiveros urged the government to transition from being a “crisis manager” to a “service provider” by working to improve workers’ benefits, services and public goods to improve their living standards.
Sen. Joel Villanueva urged the Department of Labor and Employment to expand its employment programs for those in dire need of a paying job and for government to better protect the overseas Filipino workers.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada paid tribute to the more than 52 million members of the Filipino workforce, whom he described as “the backbone of our economy and the lifeblood of our communities.”
More wages, less taxes
The stretch of Morayta in Manila on Labor Day was converted into a sea of banners and placards bearing various calls urging the government to implement livable minimum wages and tax relief for Filipino workers.
Led by the National Wage Coalition, a united front of major Philippine labor organizations, the large mobilization called for wage hikes, tax cuts, wealth tax impositions, economic relief and accountability for corruption.
Laya Ferrer from the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines condemned the government’s lack of wage increase amid rising commodity costs.
Kilusang Mayo Uno secretary-general Mary Ann Castillo said the crisis of the workers has worsened as commodity prices and other costs skyrocketed because of the tensions in the Middle East.
Labor leader Luke Espiritu of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino addressed the 5,000 protesters by denouncing the Marcos Jr. administration for blocking them from conducting their program in Mendiola.
The Manila Police District installed barricades along San Sebastian Street on Thursday night, April 30, and deployed at least 1,000 personnel to block protesters from accessing Mendiola and other thoroughfares leading to Malacañang.
Teachers and education workers marched alongside workers and the Filipino masses to deliver a clear message to the Marcos administration that workers have a constitutional right to decent and livable wages.
The Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) also joined the march led by various labor groups from España Boulevard to Mendiola.
AHW is calling for a P50,000 entry salary for nurses and other allied health professionals. The group is also demanding a P36,000 entry salary for salary grade 1 health workers.
For its part, the Catholic church joined the commemoration of Labor Day as it recognized the important role of employees, adding that although there is no war in the country, there is a war in the stomachs of ordinary workers.
Peaceful
Rallies by sectoral groups during the observance of Labor Day across the country yesterday were relatively peaceful even if five police officers were injured during a confrontation with protesters in Manila, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said nearly 10,785 people joined nine rallies held in Metro Manila and other parts of the country. Citing the reports of their ground commanders, Nartatez said the mass actions were orderly, with no major untoward incidents recorded.
PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño condemned protesters who assaulted several police officers and stole the cellphones of PNP personnel along T.M. Kalaw Avenue. – With additional reports from Bella Cariaso, Emmanuel Tupas, Rhodina Villanueva, Andrew Ronquillo, Marc Jayson Cayabyab and Ramon Efren Lazaro