Workers reaction to SONA 2025

 PRESS STATEMENT

Partido Manggagawa

SONA 2025

Ref: Renato Magtubo

Chairperson

 

The President’s candid admission of underperformance in the past three years set a promising tone for a better second half of his term. However, that hope was soon buried under a lengthy checklist of departmental functions—routine matters expected of any administration.

 

What was glaringly absent were bold policy declarations addressing the nation’s most urgent concerns: a substantial wage hike, an end to contractualization, the creation of decent and secure jobs, and decisive action to rein in inflation.

 

Workers keep on pressing for  a legislated wage hike of P200 as well as the passage of the security of tenure bill, but to no avail. Katulad sa baha at bagyo, kailangan ang Presidente sa pagharap sa krisis na ito.

 

The President also acknowledged energy and water supply issues but failed to confront the root causes—particularly the long-standing failures of privatization.

 

The SONA could have been more meaningful if it had tackled core policy failures and laid out concrete reforms for the remaining three years. The country doesn’t need a report card of government activities—it needs a clear roadmap for change. ###

 

https://web.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/pfbid0sjPyQc63ewsuuoyvdXtWBzettZYgnv3GMrq6FJr8yw993KAwGGyoeUnX1YVo5njfl

Bigong Pilipinas – War of Dynasties, No War on Poverty

Photo from Rappler

While political dynasties are locked in a bitter battle for power, the working class suffer. Workers continue to face chronic poverty and exploitation, three years under the so-called “Bagong Pilipinas” of the Marcos administration.

 

Bigo pa rin at hindi nagbago ang lagay ng Pilipinas. There is no genuine war on poverty, only a war for power among political clans.

 

Our portrayal of State of the Nation Address (SONA) tomorrow may sound too negative, but that is the hard truth we need to confront. SONA’s usual summation declaring the state of the nation as sound is an insult to millions who cannot afford basic necessities.

 

Wages remain below poverty threshold

 

In all 17 regions, the minimum wage remains below the outdated poverty threshold, forcing workers to live on starvation pay. Despite the government claims of progress with the economy inching up to reach the upper middle-income status, the reality is stark: the cost of living continues to rise, while wages lag far behind. A growing economy must have provided workers with decent jobs, but low pay and contractual jobs dominate the workplace.

 

In short, workers are drowning under the weight of high prices for food, utilities, transportation, and basic services. Mas mataas pa ang baha sa sweldo, ang mas tumitibay ay katayuan ng tiwali sa gobyerno kaysa sa trabaho ng mga Pilipino!

 

The workers’ demands are clear:

 

1.           Immediate wage hike to a level that assures a life of dignity for all workers;

2.           End contractualization by stopping the rampant use of contractual and precarious employment that robs workers of job security and benefits;

3.           Lower prices of goods and services by taking concrete steps to control inflation and reduce the cost of essentials like food, healthcare, energy, housing, and transportation.

 

Accountability

 

We likewise call on all workers and citizens to hold leaders accountable. At this moment, impeaching Sara Duterte is still the right thing to do, but the struggle for reforms must go beyond this. Raising the Filipinos’ quality of life and standard of living is a constitutional duty as equally important as ensuring accountability and good and governance.

 

Finally, we believe genuine reform will only come through the organized strength of the people, not the empty promises of political dynasties.

Impeaching Sara is still the right thing to do!

 

Photo by Inquirer.net

Justice Leonen said, “there is a right way to do the right thing at the right time.” Tama siya – but let’s be clear: impeaching Sara Duterte remains the right thing to do.

 

But if the so-called “right time” is being used to delay justice, then that is wrong. Justice must not be strangled by technicalities.

 

Meanwhile, citizens must continue to hold all government officials accountable in all aspects. Isa ito sa batayan nang sinasabi namin na reporma lagpas sa impeachment ni Sara. The call for deep political and institutional reforms does not end with Sara Duterte.

 

Accountability should not depend on titles or positions; it must apply to all public servants. We urge the people to assert this principle and ensure that those in power are never above the law.

 

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the standard applied in the recent Supreme Court decision.

ADVISORY: Pro-Impeachment Groups to Hold Symbolic Appeal at Supreme Court: Bring Back the Trial to the Senate!

MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 21, 2025

Media Contact: Juana @ 09260514250

 

Pro-Impeachment Groups to Hold Symbolic Appeal at Supreme Court: Bring Back the Trial to the Senate!

 

Organizers: Tindig Pilipinas, Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, Kalipunan ng Kilusang Masa and SIKLAB

 

What: Symbolic action and media briefing urging the Supreme Court Justices to defend the Constitution and uphold their constitutional duty to ensure the Senate proceeds with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

 

Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2025

9:00 AM

 

Venue: In front of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, Padre Faura, Manila

 

Tindig Pilipinas Tindig Pilipinas, Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, Kalipunan ng Kilusang Masa, SIKLAB and pro-democracy groups, civil society organizations and sectoral groups assert that the inaction of the Senate on the impeachment complaint filed against VP Sara Duterte constitutes a grave threat to our democracy and a betrayal of the Constitution. The Supreme Court must act as the final guardian of constitutional order by compelling the Senate to fulfill its duty to hold an impeachment trial.

 

This symbolic action will include a formal appeal and theatrical protest, calling on the Supreme Court judges to stand with the people, not with impunity.

Council Resolution filed for local probe on Armscor explosion

 

Photo from TV5

A city council resolution to conduct an inquiry was filed by Marikina City Councilor, Renato Magtubo, following a deadly explosion that occurred yesterday at the Armscor Global Defense Manufacturing facility in Marikina, resulting in the death of two workers and other reported injuries.

 

In his resolution, which is scheduled to pass first reading today, Magtubo is asking the City Council to direct several committees, including the peace and order, public safety and security, and labor and capital relations, to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation to ascertain the cause of the explosion as well as the level of accountability the company is liable to - for workers and the community.

 

Magtubo, who is also the chairperson of Partido Manggagawa (PM), noted that this was the second time that fire and explosion occurred at the same facility. “On February 29, 2024, a fire also occurred at the same facility, causing significant damage and injuring four people,” stated Magtubo.

 

“Huwag din nating kalimutan ang nangyari sa Kentex dahil habang nauulit ang mga ganito, makikita na hindi tayo nagbabago,” he added.

 

The resolution demands thereafter the submission of the Inquiry Report to the City Council with findings and recommendations, including:

 

1.           Amendments to existing ordinances on industrial safety, the handling of hazardous materials, and emergency response;

2.           Policy recommendations to national agencies for stricter enforcement of safety regulations, and;

3.           Measures to enhance corporate accountability and community protection.

 

Earlier, the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition also called on concerned government agencies to conduct the same inquiry, saying the recurrence of such deadly workplace accidents is unacceptable.

PRESS RELEASE

Partido Manggagawa

Renato Magtubo

National Chairperson

City Councilor, Marikina City 

Despite P50 NCR wage order: Labor vows to push P200 legislated wage bill in new Congress

 

Image from Dakila

The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) stated that labor groups are united in pushing a legislated wage increase as a pathway to improving the living conditions of workers and a step towards reforming the wage fixing system.

 

 “It is the high-profile campaign of the labor movement for a P200 legislated increase that nudged the NCR wage board to enact the highest ever amount of minimum hike in the region lest it be criticized by workers for being stingy and useless,” Lawrence Cusipag, one of PM’s spokespersons, asserted.

 

“With the 20^th Congress convening by July 28 and despite the P50 wage order in Metro Manila yesterday, we reiterate out demand for a P200 salary adjustment that is nationwide and across-the-board so that all workers benefit. Even informal workers and micro entrepreneurs will also gain from this measure through the multiplier effects of a robust purchasing power of formal workers,” explained Cusipag.

 

Labor groups will join multisectoral organizations in the planned mobilization on the State of the Nation speech of President Bong Bong Marcos, Jr. which is also the official opening of the new Congress.

 

“Labor will raise the demand for a legislated wage hike in opposition to the provincial rates which is an instrument to cheapen wages of workers. Labor productivity has risen continuously for the past two decades even as real wages have stagnated. Employers have monopolized the fruits of so-called economic progress,” Cusipag ended. ###