tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45360058667776998632024-03-19T10:31:49.902+08:00Partido Manggagawa (PM)Labor Party - PhilippinesPartido ng Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01408747028698265698noreply@blogger.comBlogger1674125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-84184160284477554332024-03-19T10:30:00.001+08:002024-03-19T10:30:51.305+08:00Wage clustering is better than regionalization but one national minimum wage is best<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtexswKQflVAHQWEgkLeZBD0cRYDbi1Y5Vmu6Ab0aOnZ3cdakA7K2nbfYTx8B2W1jBg3sEbhIDK4rYq6pxEsEHS-fJgrkuNXpl05Irc7CTD-IKaiDXpC1cQNUPHmeWoWhuVG-ZyfSl24OxifNe5B4vLS_16IkOADp_IFTYo0o8cz2A-Cr2khwWBIFr5UU/s1734/431631844_322296037516988_4656326510476010094_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1301" data-original-width="1734" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtexswKQflVAHQWEgkLeZBD0cRYDbi1Y5Vmu6Ab0aOnZ3cdakA7K2nbfYTx8B2W1jBg3sEbhIDK4rYq6pxEsEHS-fJgrkuNXpl05Irc7CTD-IKaiDXpC1cQNUPHmeWoWhuVG-ZyfSl24OxifNe5B4vLS_16IkOADp_IFTYo0o8cz2A-Cr2khwWBIFr5UU/s320/431631844_322296037516988_4656326510476010094_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">According
to Partido Manggagawa (PM), the proposal of Representative Joel R. Chua (3rd
District of Manila) to replace the current wage regionalization scheme with a
wage clustering system is welcome in the sense that it founded on a recognition
of the failures of the existing wage fixing system and thus opens a window for
a discussion of a better mechanism. “Wage clustering is better than
regionalization but one national minimum wage is best,” Rene Magtubo, PM
national chair, explained.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">He
added that “We agree, as Rep. Chua asserts, that wage regionalization has led a
huge gap between wages of regions that are not substantiated by differences in
cost of living, and also has led to complexity in implementation as the DOLE
has to monitor almost 50 minimum wages across the country.”</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">For
this reason, PM is pushing for a national minimum wage as a floor. Differences
between actual wages should be based on seniority, skills and productivity,
according to the group.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“Also,
while we insist that a replacement to the wage regionalization mechanism is
also overdue, let us not lose sight of the immediate demand for a P150
across-the-board legislated wage recovery,” Magtubo emphasized.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">PM
is advocating for an “Apat na Dapat” in regard to the wage issue at the moment:</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">1.
Php 150 across the board wage increase to recover wage loss due to inflation
(immediate);</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">2.
Non-wage benefits to enhance take home pay (for example: suspension of
Philhealth contributions, reduction in withholding taxes for fixed income
earners, social security subsidies, etc.);</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">3.
Review and amend RA 6727 with the end in view of having uniform wage rates and
satisfying the constitutional mandate of granting workers a living wage;</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">4.
Enhance wage and benefits setting through collective bargaining negotiations by
implementing the recommendations of the International Labour Organization’s
High-Level Tripartite Mission so that workers can exercise freedom of
association without harassment and intimidations, and unwarranted regulations. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-46577141493329591992024-03-12T11:58:00.004+08:002024-03-12T11:58:23.119+08:00MEDIA ADVISORY: Anti-mining rally at Batasan tomorrow<p>ALYANSA TIGIL MINA (ATM)</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">invites you to a<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">CREATIVE ACTION <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Pagkaswapang ng Minahan, Wakasan!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Pagkamkam ng Kapangyarihan, Pigilan!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Unahin Tao at Kalikasan, ChaCha Ibasura!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wednesday, March 13, 2024<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">9:00 AM – Assembly at Kasayahan St. cor Batasan Road <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">9:30 AM – March to South Gate of Batasang Pambansa<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Important Note: The Program is targeted to be at South Gate
of Batasang Pambansa. But, in case of dispersal, the contingent will proceed to
the North Gate and hold the program there.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Various groups led by Alyansa Tigil Mina will march to the
Batasang Pambansa to demand a stop to destructive mining operations and a
rejection of proposals to change the 1987 Constitution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Specifically, the groups will denounce the machinations of
House Speaker Martin Romualdez to amend the charter and serve his vested
interests as they charge him of amassing wealth through his and his family’s
mining companies. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Media coverage is requested. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Contact person:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Andrew Palangdao – +63 920 9845702<o:p></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-51929357502389583252024-03-08T12:18:00.002+08:002024-03-08T12:18:19.268+08:00It takes decades for pro-women laws to get Congress’ nod compared to only 2 weeks for RBH 7<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiE2WoLXNzwcuOIKfyJFV5jrJ2cN442-ZTS0S1OuZPYeSOnQaOIEi2Y3PsdHmS1dgK146G1XR_GdtZCmpllsXRr1t2ZOBIUQ1RATRr1BNmiZc2O-FyQqMa51TjTuQ9USCd51w-wLrZeEKU3Bf1PvHAdK2wwcbS5TU7jeZ-crhkNhsHspd4ujbbpd2zosjaZ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="1286" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiE2WoLXNzwcuOIKfyJFV5jrJ2cN442-ZTS0S1OuZPYeSOnQaOIEi2Y3PsdHmS1dgK146G1XR_GdtZCmpllsXRr1t2ZOBIUQ1RATRr1BNmiZc2O-FyQqMa51TjTuQ9USCd51w-wLrZeEKU3Bf1PvHAdK2wwcbS5TU7jeZ-crhkNhsHspd4ujbbpd2zosjaZ" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Haste doesn’t just make
waste; it also bears a dubious agenda. This is according to women leaders in
the labor movement who are celebrating International Women’s Day today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Partido Manggagawa (PM)
Secretary General Judy Ann Miranda, said they were referring to the Resolution
of Both Houses No. 7 (RBH 7) that was swiftly approved by the House of
Representatives’ Committee of the Whole with only six days of marathon hearing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">In an earlier statement,
Miranda said the lightning approval of RBH 7 “is equivalent to a political hack
which is unthinkable for a huge political body known for being laggard and
protracted in its lawmaking process, especially when it comes to women and
other social development agenda.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Miranda cited as an example
the lengthy years of enacting the reproductive health bill, which took 14
years, and now the proposed divorce law, as well as the right to safe and
affordable abortion even for special cases, may even take longer. The same
is true, she added, when it comes to the proposed wage hike as the last act of
Congress in legislating the wage hike was in 1989.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Photos of women’s rallies
yesterday that includes demands against charter change and for public services
can be accessed at PM FB: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/</span></a> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222;"><i>08 March 2024</i></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-22658215108106294632024-03-07T13:00:00.000+08:002024-03-07T13:00:03.769+08:00The biggest hack is amending the Constitution via RBH 6 and 7 – Partido Manggagawa<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtCGn_DeVLq69EDnF_yWhkXO3NOK7vqkK8ndtzDSLrcBW3Ly5OZugKa3WP8N0bGrLvVmy3Q6nU7DzOlW0Iv3HaiJ0wR2JZ9FchFm8FXD4eEAYGpqZHxGHtFwpsnxPQeart42PqRvKQ0Fu7JHlbvL-3qLj3tfpf2vVnzs6u5vlAT1neCN4EXgyfE7tii2pd" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2040" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtCGn_DeVLq69EDnF_yWhkXO3NOK7vqkK8ndtzDSLrcBW3Ly5OZugKa3WP8N0bGrLvVmy3Q6nU7DzOlW0Iv3HaiJ0wR2JZ9FchFm8FXD4eEAYGpqZHxGHtFwpsnxPQeart42PqRvKQ0Fu7JHlbvL-3qLj3tfpf2vVnzs6u5vlAT1neCN4EXgyfE7tii2pd" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Filipinos may have kept guard protecting their Facebook
accounts from possible hacking, a day after Meta confirmed there was a global
outage in its system. What we failed to prevent, however, was the biggest
political hack when the House of Representatives’ Committee of the Whole passed
Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 (RBH7) Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Partido Manggagawa (PM) Secretary General Judy Ann Miranda,
said the haste in approving RBH 7 at the House of Representatives, “Is
equivalent to a political hack which is unthinkable for a huge political body
known for being laggard and protracted in its lawmaking process, especially
when it comes to important social development agenda.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Miranda cited as an example the lengthy years of enacting
the reproductive health bill, which took 14 years, and now on the proposed
divorce law, and right to safe and affordable abortion even for special
cases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Kapag para sa kababaihan, history book ang trato sa amin ng
mga mambabatas. Pero kapag charter change para sa dayuhan, para silang
Facebook, Twitter, o Tiktok sa pabilisang gumalaw,” lamented Miranda, as PM
joined protest actions in the Senate with the World March of Women, and in
Manila with In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity (iDefend) Movement, which is
all part of the celebration of the International Women’s Day.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The same is true, she added, when it comes to the proposed
wage hike legislation, with the last legislated wage hike enacted by Congress
was in 1989. “When it comes to another agenda like charter change, which is an
alien concern to most Filipinos, our lawmakers get fast and furious.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Like RBH 6 now pending before the Senate, RBH 7 proposes to
amend several economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution, particularly on
areas covering public services, education, advertising, and land ownership,
among others. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once approved separately by both houses through a ¾ vote,
the “unless otherwise provided by law” shall be added to all the sections under
several articles of the Constitution that Congress so decides to be amended,
particularly Article XII (Section 11), Article XIV (paragraph 2 of Section 4),
and Article XVI (paragraph 2 of Section 11).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But Mirada emphasized, “changing those sections and articles
of the Constitution won’t alter the age-old problems of poverty and
discrimination confronting women today, which are more of an outcome of
society’s capitalistic structure where social wealth is appropriated among the
tiny few while governance is run under a dynastic political rule.” </p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>07 March 2024</i></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-72345203249264954552024-03-06T14:29:00.002+08:002024-03-06T14:29:14.249+08:00PM Stands with Senator Risa Hontiveros Against Vilification by Quiboloy Camp<p><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJJ104m7tcCecSV5nD0mroq0GyPwQvbuvkijqtdaE8KekNLO3-Kc_NdFrK_apEaDj3-YrP7r_d3ZJSR3aGVI7ORiRgvvITgL2lJU4oe-QzemoI1QA39FYKXN1GMa-RVw-6_CNhc4CxZBOB_xOS8M8rlmx_j3agg6n1kOEonDMpE-rptYpCWPPEL7nCkmoa" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJJ104m7tcCecSV5nD0mroq0GyPwQvbuvkijqtdaE8KekNLO3-Kc_NdFrK_apEaDj3-YrP7r_d3ZJSR3aGVI7ORiRgvvITgL2lJU4oe-QzemoI1QA39FYKXN1GMa-RVw-6_CNhc4CxZBOB_xOS8M8rlmx_j3agg6n1kOEonDMpE-rptYpCWPPEL7nCkmoa" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from Daily Tribune</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Partido
Manggagawa stands with Senator Risa Hontiveros against the malicious attacks
orchestrated by the Quiboloy camp, as the Committee on Women and Children
resumed its public hearing yesterday on the latter’s alleged criminal offenses.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
group asserts that the arrest of Quiboloy is a fitting commemoration of women's
month. Tomorrow women members of Partido Manggagawa are joining two mass
actions; at the Senate in the morning and at Mehan Garden in the afternoon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Senator
Risa hoped that the man at the center of the controversy finally submits under
the jurisdiction of the Senate for investigation, in aid of legislation.
Quibuloy failed to show up again, prompting the committee to finally issue a
warrant of arrest against the self-appointed son of god.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">But in a
bid to defend himself in absentia, Quibuloy sent his followers to the Senate
yesterday to demand Senator Risa's resignation instead. His followers claim to
seek justice for what they perceive as unjust treatment of their leader by both
the US and Philippine governments. Yet, Quibuloy himself conveniently avoids
facing the same demands for justice within his own kingdom. In retaliation, he
stoops to vilifying the individual who dares to subject him to public
scrutiny. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Here he
crossed the line long held and defended by the women’s movement.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Targeting
a champion of women's and children's rights like Senator Risa Hontiveros is an
affront to all women. It is deeply concerning to witness a cult leader, who
shirks accountability for his crimes by hiding in the shadows, manipulating his
female followers to shield him from scrutiny, and tarnishing the reputation of
a prominent female leader. This behavior exposes him for what he truly is: an
incorrigible male supremacist.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Senator
Risa may stand as the lone woman in the Senate on this contentious issue of
justice, but she stands fortified by the unwavering support from grassroots
women across the nation. United in solidarity, this battle is already won, with
or without Quibuloy's human body landing in jail. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><i>06 March 2024</i></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-3554322090885357722024-03-06T12:34:00.003+08:002024-03-07T07:31:08.470+08:00Media Advisory: Pre-International Women's Day 2024 Mass actions today<p><b>Media Advisory</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pre-International
Women's Day 2024 Events<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Women's groups to
mobilize for two actions <o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over 300
grassroots women from national organizations under the umbrella of the World
March of Women - Pilipinas will march to the Senate building <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>March 7, 2024 (Today),
9:00 AM <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Where: From Film Center to Senate Building <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Details:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Carrying the theme "Kababaihan: Ayaw sa Charter Change
na Maka Dayuhan at Maka-Trapo!," the grassroots feminists will push
strongly to stop Cha-Cha initiatives by the traditional politicians<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Clad in purple shirts, will march, hold a program and
perform a "counter-ChaCha dance"<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Contact Person: Jean Enriquez 09778105326<o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm; padding: 0cm;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What: Members of In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity
Movement (iDefend) will hold a public action<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When: March 7, 2024 (Today), 4:00 PM<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Where: Mehan Garden Bonifacio Revolution Shrine near Manila
City Hall<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Details:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Women's groups will highlight the economic crises facing
Filipino women today, including the food and fuel inflation, insufficient wages
and the continuing violence of the government's war on drugs and war on terror.
Participants will express a condemnation of Congress' moves to change the
Constitution, instead of focusing on the dire socio-economic situation of the
people. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As a photo opportunity, participants will mirror the
Bonifacio monument in a tableau of women- mothers, workers, urban poor,
indigenous, farmers, fisherfolk, students- struggling to survive and thrive in
the current challenging socio-political and economic environment.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Opportunities will also be available for interviewing of
women leaders.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Contact Person: Niza Concepcion 09395677987<o:p></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-6999849108945815072024-02-28T11:43:00.005+08:002024-02-28T11:49:39.190+08:00PRESS RELEASE: When the lives of workers improve, the entire economy will also improve – Nagkaisa!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiE4KatARHOtRz-8S1h2HR6KMVXLzN71bBVy5bjskrJVISKZaa9HxzOCw3RTFKGJDvU6BO_svJWisgOLMNUfzW2R8xPklJQER8fulWY5H0TjoQkxcGX7mWv-5Lp1k7x1jb7eqg629bmQbnblC4ZK9k2alx8rORKMRE4kUeaFzSpTeHSM8d1_d_wrBe3hmkp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiE4KatARHOtRz-8S1h2HR6KMVXLzN71bBVy5bjskrJVISKZaa9HxzOCw3RTFKGJDvU6BO_svJWisgOLMNUfzW2R8xPklJQER8fulWY5H0TjoQkxcGX7mWv-5Lp1k7x1jb7eqg629bmQbnblC4ZK9k2alx8rORKMRE4kUeaFzSpTeHSM8d1_d_wrBe3hmkp" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from Manila Bulletin</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the ongoing hearing today regarding the legislated wage
hike in the Lower House of Congress, members of the Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition
urged lawmakers to prioritize the demands of workers for a P150 or higher wage
increase, instead of yielding to the threats of employers that it will destroy
the economy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The group reminded lawmakers of the provision in the
Constitution stating the "primacy of labor over capital" as a guiding
principle in deciding on this contentious issue. They pointed out that for over
three decades, employers have persistently opposed it, while the minimum wage
of workers remained below the poverty line.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The group stated this position while staging a protest in
front of the Batasan complex, along with the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines
(TUCP), Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Federation of Free Workers (FFW), Sentro ng
Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO), Kapatiran ng mga Unyon at
Samahang Manggagawa (KAPATIRAN), Marikina Workers Alliance, National Federation
of Labor (NFL), Partido Manggagawa (PM), TESEF, and Unified Filipino Service
Workers (UFSW).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But before the protest could even start, the police
dispersed them away from the Batasan gate and blocked their return, led by
Precinct 6 commander, Col. Castillo. The labor groups condemned the actions of
the police, stating that this was the second time they had done so, the first
being against the youth just two weeks prior.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They called on the leadership of the PNP and Mayor Joy
Belmonte to stop the police abuse at the Batasan, as it shows a lack of respect
for freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The group asserted further that their petition for wage
increase is not anti-MSME or anti-business because any additional income in the
pockets of workers is returned to the economy through consumption in small
businesses, compared to the huge profits of businesses that only go towards
extravagant expenses of capital owners.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">NAGKAISA! also mentioned that the economy of workers relies
solely on wages, so while most survive in the formal sector and self-reliance
in the informal economy, a wage increase has a more positive impact on the
entire economy compared to if the majority of workers remain impoverished.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They noted that the highest minimum wage of P610 here in NCR
has a real value lower than the national poverty line of P13,797 in 2023.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Aside from the wage increase in the private sector,
NAGKAISA! supports a separate proposal for a wage hike for public sector
employees.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">NAGKAISA! also seeks to reform the wage-setting system in
the country through legislation because for the past 35 years under RA6727 and
regional wage boards, the majority of workers in the country have remained
poor, which goes against the Constitution's mandate for the right to a living
wage and a rising standard of living for their families.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>February 28, 2024</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p></o:p></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition</i></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-49585140007300556232024-02-27T14:33:00.001+08:002024-02-27T14:33:04.041+08:00MEDIA ADVISORY: PICKET FOR WAGE HIKE @ BATASAN TOM<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">MEDIA ADVISORY<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Request for coverage<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">27 February 2024</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">PICKET FOR WAGE HIKE @ BATASAN<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Members of the House Committee on Labor and Employment will
start deliberating on bills seeking legislated wage hike tomorrow. NAGKAISA
leaders will attend the hearing, while coalition members will be with labor
groups for a joint action outside the House of Representatives. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">WHEN: February 28, 2024<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">TIME: 8:30 AM<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">WHERE: South Wing Gate of the Batasan Complex<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Photo ops available<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">----------------<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For details/queries you may contact: Ruby Monge @
09176380247<o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-91494291723199735172024-02-27T13:50:00.003+08:002024-02-27T13:50:31.538+08:00Labor group to ECOP: You also need to feel how bad life is for ordinary workers<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3h7cwrr3jpFCA4kdxj7KD3N133OcBfgDqJfykJcB7SYYkNcaBnf6eEtvfmrZ4h81uV2fRXuhwyzBpAroM6Arg_hX4LSxwAZEYOpqgn2Db7JPcslrEU9s9w7lLFtdWEI0jPUf9d948Q4q_Go-T-2hmfntoxm5k5Sm40Z9dXnTjR7CzCTMf1GSFGRM4bOYA/s1280/F22%20anti%20chacha%20Manila%20Cathedral%201.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3h7cwrr3jpFCA4kdxj7KD3N133OcBfgDqJfykJcB7SYYkNcaBnf6eEtvfmrZ4h81uV2fRXuhwyzBpAroM6Arg_hX4LSxwAZEYOpqgn2Db7JPcslrEU9s9w7lLFtdWEI0jPUf9d948Q4q_Go-T-2hmfntoxm5k5Sm40Z9dXnTjR7CzCTMf1GSFGRM4bOYA/s320/F22%20anti%20chacha%20Manila%20Cathedral%201.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">We can
try to understand how employers feel about the pending wage hike proposals in
Congress. But their permanent opposition to any proposal since time immemorial
speaks volumes about their regard for the lives of ordinary workers in our
country.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">We see
them constantly opposed to any wage hike proposal at the level of regional wage
boards since 1989, and against the legislated wage proposals since 1999.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">In other
words, they will cry wolf against any wage proposal, but neglect to mention how
workers suffered a life of poverty. They won’t tell us that GDP and labor
productivity more than doubled during the last three decades, but real wages of
workers remained flat.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">In fact,
even as they up the hype of apocalyptic death of local industry and el niño of
foreign investors, the fact remains that minimum wages all over the country
fall under the national poverty threshold of P13,797 per month for a family of
five. The same is true when economic managers assure everyone that GDP will
remain within the 6% trajectory. That won’t change the fact that after 35 years
under the regional wage boards, guided by thousands of pages of Philippine
Development Plans, more than 20% of our population remains poor, or close to
half, according to the latest SWS survey on self-rated poverty.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
problem is that employers don’t feel this way as they always view wage hikes,
union rights, and equitable distribution of wealth as anti-business. But we
don’t require them to have a change of heart, in the same way workers won’t
stop asking for fair share in the social wealth they have been creating for centuries. </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Why then
is legislative action necessary for wage hikes? Simply put, the regionalization
of wages under RA6727 was an epic failure. The highest wage rates, 35 years
after, still fall short of meeting the poverty threshold. Moreover, regional wage
policies have not succeeded in attracting investments to the country's poorer
regions, despite being one of the law's intended objectives. There is also a
low level of investment despite this low wage regime incentives.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">We
understand ECOP's emphasis on micro-enterprises as a central argument against
wage hikes. However, framing the issue as a choice between inflation,
unemployment, and small businesses overlooks the broader benefits of ensuring
workers receive fair compensation. We maintain that our call for legislated
wage hikes is not intended to harm small businesses; rather, we believe that
the positive ripple effects of higher take-home pay extend further than keeping
wages at starvation levels.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><i>27 February 2024</i></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-78121161557962478762024-02-22T11:06:00.002+08:002024-02-22T11:06:33.067+08:00Social movements march against chacha, link up with church groups<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVeyLH0RSQd4hJqcCyJTfY1dznLqIpkU32mocnfw03KVag3YwaUCeE294KGzDX8r9e4vGKkIT5riTLX2pIXUlitaJWVteKX7BY2HArRUDQgOApSo04H-HLJZC88LUCFc093P-hLfb_treAOCDbQVSVFnyw6wDQ2k8stb9ifOiFQvoMN9d6HFhwZ9yNsP2/s1734/428308948_7366829300068677_8780045770410816447_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1301" data-original-width="1734" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVeyLH0RSQd4hJqcCyJTfY1dznLqIpkU32mocnfw03KVag3YwaUCeE294KGzDX8r9e4vGKkIT5riTLX2pIXUlitaJWVteKX7BY2HArRUDQgOApSo04H-HLJZC88LUCFc093P-hLfb_treAOCDbQVSVFnyw6wDQ2k8stb9ifOiFQvoMN9d6HFhwZ9yNsP2/s320/428308948_7366829300068677_8780045770410816447_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Labor organizations and
social movements on Thursday participated in the ecumenical gathering
“PANAGHOY, PANALANGIN AT PANININDIGAN LABAN SA CHARTER CHANGE” event led by the
Koalisyon Laban sa Chacha held at Plaza Roma, directly in front of the Manila
Cathedral and the Commission on Elections office.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But before converging at
Plaza Roma, sectoral and community groups gathered from eight in the morning at
the Missionary Charity beside the Delpan Sports Complex in Tondo and marched
towards Anda Circle to link up with other contingents. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Carrying the banner
"Sahod Itaas, Cha-Cha Iatras" were the Federation of Free Workers
(FFW), Partido Manggagawa (PM), and Sentro ng Nagkakaisa at Progresibong
Manggagawa (SENTRO), all conveners of the NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition. Meanwhile,
KALIPUNAN is comprised of groups Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), Kilos Maralita (KM),
PAKISAMA, PM, SENTRO, and World March of Women.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Also joining the march were
the Akbayan party, the human rights group In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity
Movement or iDefend, Tindig Pilipinas, UPAC and DAMPA.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Urban poor residents from
Parola and Baseco in Tondo, particularly those from Isla Puting Bato and Slip
0, called on the government to prioritize and fund housing programs for the
poor instead of pushing for chacha which offers land ownership to foreign
citizens. Women and youth participants also voiced their demands for wider
social services and the eradication of violence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In their related statements,
the groups asserted that the Constitution is not the reason why many Filipinos
remain poor. They argued that the real problem lies in the concentration of
wealth in a few hands and the dynastic governance of the country's leaders.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">They also claimed that
charter change was never the people’s urgent concerns such as inflation, wage
hike and unemployment, hence there is no reason for lawmakers to prioritize it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The Koalisyon Laban sa Chacha
is a coalition of church, sectors, and community groups launched on February 14
to oppose charter change while simultaneously advocating for the people's
demands, deepening democracy, and good governance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Following the mass, the
coalition conducted their program including sectoral speeches, during which
they called on the Comelec to completely halt the people’s initiative. Part of
the action also included commemorating the People Power that began on February
22, 1986.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">They vowed to continue
opposing cha-cha until the people’s initiative and even the convening of ConAss
for economic charter change are completely stopped. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Photos and videos can be
accessed at https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Kalipunan ng mga Kilusang Masa (KALIPUNAN)</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>February 22, 2024</i></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-90033605472009675392024-02-22T00:01:00.001+08:002024-02-22T00:01:00.138+08:00MEDIA ADVISORY: Social movements march to anti-chacha assembly with church<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">MEDIA ADVISORY</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Request for coverage<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Kalipunan ng mga Kilusang
Masa (KALIPUNAN)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">22 February 2024<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Social movements march to
anti-chacha assembly with church<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">But before joining church
groups in Plaza Roma in front of the Manila Cathedral, NAGKAISA!, KALIPUNAN,
Akbayan, iDefend, UPAC, and DAMPA will organize a COMMUNITY MARCH from
Missionary Charity in Tondo Manila, bringing along with them their sectoral
agenda and collective opposition to chacha. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">WHEN: February 22, 2024<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">TIME: 8:00 AM<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">WHERE: Community/sectoral
assembly at Missionary Charity (cor. Delpan Sports Complex). And then to Anda
Circle to link up with other contingents. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Photo ops available<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">----------------<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">For details/queries you may
contact:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judy Ann Miranda @ 09175570777;
Ruby Monge @ 09176380247<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-72594766603463454632024-02-21T12:08:00.003+08:002024-02-21T21:02:09.528+08:00 MEDIA ADVISORY: Anti-chacha community march by workers, women and poor tomorrow <p>Request for coverage</p><p><br /></p><p>NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition</p><p>Kalipunan ng mga Kilusang Masa (KALIPUNAN)</p><p>21 February 2024</p><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Anti-chacha community march by workers, women and poor tomorrow <o:p></o:p></p><p><br /></p><p>But before joining church groups in Plaza Roma in front of the Manila Cathedral, NAGKAISA!, KALIPUNAN, Akbayan, iDefend, UPAC, and DAMPA will organize a COMMUNITY MARCH from Missionary Charity in Tondo Manila, bringing along with them their sectoral agenda and collective opposition to chacha. </p><p><br /></p><p>WHEN: February 22, 2024</p><p>TIME: 8:00 AM</p><p>WHERE: Community/sectoral assembly at Missionary Charity (cor. Delpan Sports Complex). And then to Anda Circle to link up with other contingents. </p><p><br /></p><p>Photo ops available</p><p><br /></p><p>----------------</p><p>For details/queries you may contact: Judy Ann Miranda @ 09175570777; Ruby Monge @ 09176380247</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-44341873593283720382024-02-20T12:22:00.001+08:002024-02-20T12:22:09.766+08:00House must now deliberate on wage hike as Senate passes P100 version—Partido Manggagawa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrVdZtvEU8dEUponRj3bOSuFJBVv3Lurpr9wdL_4p9Kk0yLJH1j7dPUUjiLeJKV8430OUOeQxT_3a0qseWmuGrkcSRNPLhFrSTryf-VAu4ioJsmFIn3fidPNhK7oyodzMZ4p75J60HG7H4PaT5YXBA3Py3vFtUNAU1e0Yb4J3MqUdRiB2bzmbACOzmw9n/s4096/Sahod%20itaas,%20chacha%20iatras.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="3165" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrVdZtvEU8dEUponRj3bOSuFJBVv3Lurpr9wdL_4p9Kk0yLJH1j7dPUUjiLeJKV8430OUOeQxT_3a0qseWmuGrkcSRNPLhFrSTryf-VAu4ioJsmFIn3fidPNhK7oyodzMZ4p75J60HG7H4PaT5YXBA3Py3vFtUNAU1e0Yb4J3MqUdRiB2bzmbACOzmw9n/s320/Sahod%20itaas,%20chacha%20iatras.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>The group Partido Manggagawa (PM) stated that the Senate approval of the P100 legislated wage hike is a welcome relief. “We will wait for the House of Representatives if they can walk their counterpart bills which are higher than the Senate’s. Huwag sanang ang grasya ay maging bato pa kung aatras ang Kamara. Magagalit ang manggagawa. The battle now shifts to Batasan,” declared Rene Magtubo, PM national chair and a Marikina City councilor.</p><p> </p><p>The group also asserted that all workers, formal and informal, will gain whether directly or indirectly from the legislated wage hike, contrary to the claims of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) that only 10% of “formal workers” will benefit.</p><p> </p><p>“Minimum wage earners will get the P100 wage hike in full. Other workers in the formal sector will gain a portion of P100 through what is called wage distortion—wages above the minimum will have to be adjusted since the floor was raised. And workers in the informal economy will also benefit since formal workers with more purchasing power will patronize their products and services. It is ordinary wage earners—not rich professionals or capitalists—who buy from street vendors, eat in carinderias, ride jeepneys and tricycles, and purchase farmers’ and fishers’ produce in wet markets. In fact, formal and informal workers live together as one family so how can they not enjoy the wage hike?,” Magtubo.</p><p> </p><p>He lambasted Sergio Ortiz-Luis of ECOP “for feigning concern for workers when in truth he just doesn’t want profits reduced through a wage hike.”</p><p><br /></p><p>“Ortiz-Luis is peddling fake news. Let us be evidence-based with the numbers. The latest Labor Force Survey shows that 49.2%, about half, of the total 50.5 million labor force, are 24.8 million workers employed in private firms. Of which, one fifth or 4.1 million are minimum wage earners. Another 13.8 million workers, about a quarter or 27.4% of the labor force, are self-employed with no employees. Majority of them are informal workers like street vendors and tricycle drivers while a minority are middle-class professionals like doctors and lawyers. Therefore, three quarters of the labor force or more than 30 million workers stand to benefit from a wage hike. Ortiz-Luis is being disingenuous as he is actually defending the interests of the one million employers or 2% of the labor force,” Magtubo expounded.</p><p> </p><p>He added that “In fact, even employers will in the end take advantage of a wage hike as aggregate demand in the economy will rise. Workers’ wages are entirely consumed to buy their families’ necessities, unlike capitalists who hoard part of their profits as savings or use it to obtain luxuries from abroad. This is what happened for the past two years: the economy prospered, and inflation and unemployment went on a decline after two successive minimum wage hikes in all regions. Wage hikes are good, not bad, for the economy and all workers.” </p><div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-16956805652981429652024-02-19T16:41:00.001+08:002024-02-19T16:41:06.560+08:00STATEMENT ON SENATE APPROVAL OF P100 WAGE HIKE<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
Senate approval of the P100 wage hike is a welcome relief. We will wait for the
House of Representatives if they can walk their counterpart bills which are
higher than the Senate’s.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Huwag
sanang ang grasya ay maging bato pa kung aatras ang Kamara. Magagalit ang
manggagawa.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
battle now shifts to Batasan.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">19 February 2024</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-49473030390567973582024-02-19T10:29:00.004+08:002024-02-19T10:29:30.283+08:00Wage Earners and Aleng Nena Share Economic Benefit from Higher Wages – Partido Manggagawa<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNjB5wavU6QjU_RgNAN3u_onGQZyusdDN__aFn1TTsanmZoUZ19cGXu9AcFSPrhmtfRcyEfp-6doFMRuqc85lnA-PKkeSbkQFrToDtdqAQj4pq0XczdXzEZx1qPEMqxtUfJgVvXhnmcj_TvOdpuEFAyaH1C9e74SS53D-V7crsQ4P9KxTPqK8epwxhC9Q/s4096/P100%20now%20na,%20chacha%20wag%20na.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="3165" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNjB5wavU6QjU_RgNAN3u_onGQZyusdDN__aFn1TTsanmZoUZ19cGXu9AcFSPrhmtfRcyEfp-6doFMRuqc85lnA-PKkeSbkQFrToDtdqAQj4pq0XczdXzEZx1qPEMqxtUfJgVvXhnmcj_TvOdpuEFAyaH1C9e74SS53D-V7crsQ4P9KxTPqK8epwxhC9Q/s320/P100%20now%20na,%20chacha%20wag%20na.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Unlike in business where income is retained by
employers either as capital for reinvestment or as profit to sustain lavish
lifestyles, workers' wages circulate directly into the local economy,
bolstering the income of neighborhood stores as noted in a recent report
published in a leading newspaper.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This is according to Partido Manggagawa (PM) which,
together with the Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition, continues to press for the passage
of the P100 and higher wage hike bills in both Houses of Congress despite
permanent opposition from the Employers Confederation of the Philippines
(ECOP).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Today the Senate is poised to pass the P100
increase in minimum wage on third and final reading, while the Lower House has
yet to act on the pending P150 and P750 wage hike for workers in the private
sector, as well as the P33,000 entry level monthly salary for public sector
workers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The more than P8-B sales generated by neighborhood
sari-sari stores in 2023, as reported by analytics group Packworks, “reinforces
our claim that a uniform increase in national minimum wage would neither kill
micro enterprises nor lead to massive unemployment,” said PM Chair Renato
Magtubo.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">This report, he added, also disproves ECOP’s
‘catastrophe’ scenario for small businesses once minimum wages are increased by
P100, or higher. “To the contrary, Packworks’ analytic research pointed to
escalating sales transactions between neighborhoods from 2022-2023, coinciding
with slight adjustments in minimum wages ordered by the regional wage boards
during that time,” Magtubo said. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The report also found no correlation between
inflation and the sales trend in sari-sari stores, belying further ECOP’s
sensational ‘wage hike = high inflation’ economic blackmail. Inflation slid
down to 2.8% in January 2024 from 8.7% in January 2023 based on official
statistics reported by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Considering this positive trend, Magtubo
anticipates further boost in sales transactions for Aleng Nenas from
significant wage increases, citing an earlier study showing that 94% of
consumers rely heavily on neighborhood stores for their retail needs. With
approximately 1.3 million sari-sari stores nationwide, 75% of which are owned
by women, these establishments play a crucial role in sustaining local
economies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Drawing from his experience as a former union
president, Magtubo underscores the symbiotic relationship between workers and
sari-sari stores. He notes, "Workers often rely on
'utang-bayad-utang-bayad' transactions with their Aleng Nenas. Thus, their
capacity to pay and buy more directly impacts on the viability and
sustainability of neighborhood stores."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">In effect, elaborates Magtubo, “Absent regular
support from the government, it is more evident that the transfer of income
from wages of formal labor is what sustains the sari-sari stores, and
consequently, Aleng Nena’s self-employment in the informal economy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Magtubo concludes by affirming the labor movement's
stance that legislated wage hikes of P100 or higher are not only justified but
also beneficial to the national economy. He calls for an end to fear-mongering
tactics employed by the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>19 February 2024</i></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-82491121231005300452024-02-18T11:12:00.006+08:002024-02-18T11:12:56.787+08:00All workers will benefit from a wage hike—Partido Manggagawa<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbi-HavI-GM9L9SOyEPUT20ODk0CUJzsorIDIk3kWVgssxTYJS8I7HsUKzfbhILMT1ucI_A_X-F_LSt4_LmzXHc-gmOQ9mceM9LCknyCqvYuJt4MZwF4eTzfw-a4HHVFN-EMw0PDeia66KtkMxB1iSfE0G0cTlub8hqRY0Bi89nfSo3zVrVOgj8l9QLUkH/s2040/423454659_352252394388586_4304583484921219984_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2040" data-original-width="1530" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbi-HavI-GM9L9SOyEPUT20ODk0CUJzsorIDIk3kWVgssxTYJS8I7HsUKzfbhILMT1ucI_A_X-F_LSt4_LmzXHc-gmOQ9mceM9LCknyCqvYuJt4MZwF4eTzfw-a4HHVFN-EMw0PDeia66KtkMxB1iSfE0G0cTlub8hqRY0Bi89nfSo3zVrVOgj8l9QLUkH/s320/423454659_352252394388586_4304583484921219984_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Contrary to the claims of the Employers
Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) that only 10% of “formal workers” will
benefit from the P100 wage hike bill pending at the Senate, the group Partido
Manggagawa (PM) asserted that all workers, formal and informal, will gain
whether directly or indirectly.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“Minimum wage earners will get the P100 wage hike
in full. Other workers in the formal sector will gain a portion of P100 through
what is called wage distortion—wages above the minimum will have to be adjusted
since the floor was raised. And workers in the informal economy will also
benefit since formal workers with more purchasing power will patronize their
products and services. It is ordinary wage earners—not rich professionals or
capitalists—who buy from street vendors, eat in carinderias, ride jeepneys and
tricycles, and purchase farmers’ and fishers’ produce in wet markets. In fact,
formal and informal workers live together as one family so how can they not
enjoy the wage hike?,” explained </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Rene Magtubo, PM national
chair and a Marikina City councilor.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">He lambasted Sergio Ortiz-Luis of ECOP “for
feigning concern for workers when in truth he just doesn’t want profits reduced
through a wage hike.”</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“Ortiz-Luis is peddling fake news. Let us be
evidence-based with the numbers. The latest Labor Force Survey shows that
49.2%, about half, of the total 50.5 million labor force, are 24.8 million
workers employed in private firms. Of which, one fifth or 4.1 million are
minimum wage earners. Another 13.8 million workers, about a quarter or 27.4% of
the labor force, are self-employed with no employees. Majority of them are
informal workers like street vendors and tricycle drivers while a minority are
middle-class professionals like doctors and lawyers. Therefore, three quarters
of the labor force or more than 30 million workers stand to benefit from a wage
hike. Ortiz-Luis is being disingenuous as he is actually defending the
interests of the one million employers or 2% of the labor force,” Magtubo
expounded.</span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">He added that “In fact, even employers will in the
end take advantage of a wage hike as aggregate demand in the economy will rise.
Workers’ wages are entirely consumed to buy their families’ necessities, unlike
capitalists who hoard part of their profits as savings or use it to obtain
luxuries from abroad. This is what happened for the past two years: the economy
prospered, and </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">inflation and unemployment went on a decline</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> after two successive minimum
wage hikes in all regions, except Davao Region in 2023</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">. Wage hikes
are good, not bad, for the economy and all workers.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;"><i>February 18, 2024</i></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-37423870741151536242024-02-16T11:59:00.003+08:002024-02-16T11:59:33.018+08:00P100 wage hike will be a blessing not catastrophe<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHRLmM52CYrPQL6eaYJXR2zEMVGxaZwzDqPxHfdQn3o0snLbP5XJ94BvGXChFZozEwo59fz-wIDwG3KWd13sxvyFxV_M7aCfHpzGwFTHyKYGL9Ixcr9lHJDZ_krcbrUsfimBZMLR5535jW9DqmyXGlVIpBOVPR27EIMFV2OJbixIACW5_mnp21Pm6NRHd/s2040/423600013_1409004459721956_6892507748468633159_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2040" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHRLmM52CYrPQL6eaYJXR2zEMVGxaZwzDqPxHfdQn3o0snLbP5XJ94BvGXChFZozEwo59fz-wIDwG3KWd13sxvyFxV_M7aCfHpzGwFTHyKYGL9Ixcr9lHJDZ_krcbrUsfimBZMLR5535jW9DqmyXGlVIpBOVPR27EIMFV2OJbixIACW5_mnp21Pm6NRHd/s320/423600013_1409004459721956_6892507748468633159_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) countered employers’ doomsday scenarios for
the economy once a legislated wage hike is passed. “A P100 wage hike will be a
blessing not a catastrophe for the economy. For the past two years, minimum
wages were raised in all regions, except BARMM for this round, and yet
inflation and unemployment went on a decline. The economy benefited and did not
suffer from salary increases,” argued Rene Magtubo, PM national chair.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The
group welcomes the proposed P100 increase in minimum wages nationwide which the
Senate will deliberate on third reading on Monday. “We would have wanted it to
be higher and across-the-board but still an additional P100 in workers’ pockets
will be an immediate relief as the cost of living is around P1,200 a day,”
Magtubo stated.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">PM
is calling on the House of Representatives Labor Committee to deliberate on the
pending wage bills. “As surveys have repeatedly shown, Filipinos want solutions
to high prices and low wages, not amendments to the Constitution. Let’s get to
work,” Magtubo demanded.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">He
added that “ECOP head Sergio Ortiz-Luis is singing an old tune. They cried the
same dire predictions in 2022 and again in 2023 when organized labor demanded
wage hikes. Inflation in 2022 was 5.8% but now it is down to 2.8%. Similarly,
unemployment has decreased from 5.4% in 2022 to 3.1% as of December last year.”</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“In
Metro Manila</span><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">, the
minimum wage hike in 2022 and 2023 was P33 and P40, respectively, or P73 in
total. Firms did not shutter and MSMEs did not go under. Where is the
catastrophe? On the contrary, the economy has gained from wage hikes as the
increased purchasing power meant greater demand and bigger production for firms
in industry and services,” Magtubo explained.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">He
continued that “As theory and studies show, a moderate salary raise need not
lead to inflation or retrenchment as employers can just absorb the higher labor
costs by reducing their profit. So, we call on Sergio Ortiz-Luis, share the
wealth with the workers who created it in the first place.” </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 16px;"><i>February 16, 2024</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-20498391715451942862024-02-15T12:18:00.000+08:002024-02-15T12:18:06.443+08:00Nagkaisa! Presses the Lower House to Raise Wages Higher than What the Senate Could<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOaM0kvEOwZykRX9mic1zQapvm_QY8K-sjfEsKPO8nYvjXG-2uvEy9Sh_fvrBuYgdwV__CSN9Omu6XnCDURx-37jSUgzgz5yoGes8273Ln77UzlYcOvidrayGL0HPdF25IVyBnAGi3n0U5rU-NixmryWBaKQRy9z3z0t2SycvZnhv7GMx6vwmSvF5aYteQ/s2048/Senate%20Chicha%20di%20chacha%2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOaM0kvEOwZykRX9mic1zQapvm_QY8K-sjfEsKPO8nYvjXG-2uvEy9Sh_fvrBuYgdwV__CSN9Omu6XnCDURx-37jSUgzgz5yoGes8273Ln77UzlYcOvidrayGL0HPdF25IVyBnAGi3n0U5rU-NixmryWBaKQRy9z3z0t2SycvZnhv7GMx6vwmSvF5aYteQ/s320/Senate%20Chicha%20di%20chacha%2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">With the Senate
getting closer to passing on third reading the proposed P100 wage increase, the
Nagkaisa! Labor Coalition now calls on the House of Representatives (HOR) to
get their own version of the bill moving and raise wages higher than what the
Senate could.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Pending before the HOR
are bills seeking a P150 and P750 across-the-board wage hikes for private
sector workers, and P33,000/month entry level for public sector workers. Today,
a bill was also filed for a P50,000 salary base for teachers.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">If the HOR can create
a mountain out of a molehill, like what it did for a more complicated process
of revising the Constitution, then they can do the same for the wage hike bills
and in correcting the defective wage setting mechanism in the country.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The P100 wage proposal
which passed the second reading in the Senate today falls short of the P150
originally promised and a far cry from what was needed to save minimum wage
earners from the poverty wages imposed upon them by all the regional wage
boards. The measure is also for minimum wage earners only. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-PH; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Still, we welcome it
as a form of relief, and a good start as well to correcting the problems
created by the regional wage setting mechanism. Once legislated, this should be
followed by reforming the wage setting mechanism, which both the House and the Senate
should initiate, rather than waste their time on charter change. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition</span><o:p></o:p></b></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>15 February 2024</i></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-42486396136693658272024-02-14T13:28:00.000+08:002024-02-14T13:28:40.193+08:00BROAD COALITION VS CHA-CHA LAUNCHED<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnq2ANSeL3bl-FKB8iizXUjsX7AUbakwXgyiZ4KpWkUxPOrfvJAs3Gr8jBx7Wqs9xEK0_wgRstZ6rLbNydn07h12XIHwpP5d5_HmZW7BRf9wkez3bUAFNWukVakzJZD6ANCfmM94b4H16f6i4lNI99tkUUFQnBilrj01mMCvOnQOmPbGNg1L4HXSF6UDF3/s2048/Koalisyon%20Laban%20sa%20ChaCha%20launch%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="2048" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnq2ANSeL3bl-FKB8iizXUjsX7AUbakwXgyiZ4KpWkUxPOrfvJAs3Gr8jBx7Wqs9xEK0_wgRstZ6rLbNydn07h12XIHwpP5d5_HmZW7BRf9wkez3bUAFNWukVakzJZD6ANCfmM94b4H16f6i4lNI99tkUUFQnBilrj01mMCvOnQOmPbGNg1L4HXSF6UDF3/s320/Koalisyon%20Laban%20sa%20ChaCha%20launch%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><p></p><div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Various people’s organizations and religious groups
launched Wednesday, February 14, a coalition against a renewed push for<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>Charter<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;">
</span>change<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>(Cha-cha)<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>which<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;">
</span>they<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>said<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>will<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>not<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>solve the country’s problems, contrary to
its proponents.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 5.8pt; margin-top: .05pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Koalisyon Laban sa Cha-cha — convened by Bishop Jose
Colin M. Bagaforo of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines,<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>Bishop<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>Jonel<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>Milan<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>K4Philippines<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>Intercessors Movement, Ms. Minnie Anne
Mata-Calub of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Sen. Risa
Hontiveros, of Tindig Pilipinas, Josua Mata of Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, and
Justine Balane of Akbayan Youth. — denounced the fresh<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>moves<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>revise<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;">
</span>the 1987 Constitution as “selfish.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 6.05pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">“Our Constitution is robust but not fully implemented
and completed with the necessary implementing laws. The leaders we entrusted
with power do not fully implement the Constitution and provide necessary
implementing laws because of selfish agenda,” the coalition said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 6.15pt; margin-top: .05pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">It also refuted claims of lawmakers campaigning for
Cha-cha that the Constitution is to blame for <br />chronic poverty and that its
economic provisions are too restrictive for foreign <span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">investments.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 5.9pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">The group vowed to uphold the Constitution, particularly
its<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>social<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>justice<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>provisions,<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>to
protect the sanctity of processes<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>amend<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;">
</span>or<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>revise<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>Charter<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>so<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>that<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>these<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;">
</span>will<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>not<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>be<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>used
to exploit people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 5.75pt; margin-top: .05pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">As it<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>traced<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>opposition<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>previous<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>Cha-cha<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;">
</span>attempts,<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>coalition<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>said<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>there<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>is<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>no<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>reason to change the Constitution now,<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>especially<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>under<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>president<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>“in<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>denial<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>corruption<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>and human rights abuses of his father's dictatorial regime.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h1><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: small;">‘True<span style="letter-spacing: -.25pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">unity’</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top: 3.75pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 5.7pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Bishop Bagaforo, who chairs the Catholic Bishops
Conference of the Philippines’ Episcopal Commission on Social Action, Justice
and Peace and heads Caritas Philippines, called the current push for Cha-cha
“questionable.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 6.25pt; margin-top: .05pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">“We<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>view<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>attempts<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">
</span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>alter<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>Constitution,<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>especially<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>with<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>questionable<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>motives<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">
</span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>limited public
participation, as threatening our nation's well-being,” Bagaforo said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 5.7pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">He continued, “The 1987 Constitution is not a political
plaything. It was crafted<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>after<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>a<span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;"> </span>dark
period to serve the Filipino people, upholding human dignity, human rights, and
the common good. We echo the CBCP's stance: Any revision must adhere to these
moral <span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">principles.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<div class="WordSection2">
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 5.65pt; margin-top: 4.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">The National Council of Churches in the Philippines
(NCCP), an ecumenical fellowship of non-Roman<span style="letter-spacing: 2.0pt;">
</span>Catholic<span style="letter-spacing: 2.0pt;"> </span>denominations<span style="letter-spacing: 2.0pt;"> </span>in<span style="letter-spacing: 2.0pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 2.0pt;"> </span>country,<span style="letter-spacing: 2.0pt;">
</span>also<span style="letter-spacing: 2.0pt;"> </span>rejected<span style="letter-spacing: 2.0pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: 2.0pt;"> </span>current<span style="letter-spacing: 2.0pt;"> </span>push<span style="letter-spacing: 2.0pt;"> </span>for
Cha-cha, saying it will not help people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 6.0pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">“It will open up the economy to further foreign<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>exploitation<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>foreign<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>military<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;">
</span>basing.<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>The former will
further mire the people in poverty while the latter will compromise Philippine
sovereignty,” Jennifer Ferariza-Meneses, NCCP’s vice-chairperson for women,
said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 6.2pt; margin-top: .05pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Hontiveros hailed the “true unity” of people’s
organizations and religious groups joining forces against Cha-cha despite
having come from different walks of life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 6.2pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">“Ito ang tunay na pagkakaisa: Ang pagkakaisa ng
taumbayan na lalaban para sa kapakanan ng nakararami, hindi para lang sa
interes ng iilan,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 5.65pt; margin-top: .05pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">The senator urged people to join the coalition and other
groups against Cha-cha as she underscored<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>need<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>further<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">
</span>strengthen<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>campaign<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">
</span>against<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>this<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>attempt<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">
</span>to<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>tamper<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>with the Constitution.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 6.1pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">“Pagod na tayo sa pagtangis<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>dahil<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>sa<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>mga<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>nasaktang<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>puso<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>at<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>napakong<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">
</span>pangako,”<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>Hontiveros said.
“Kaya pupunasan na natin ang ating luha at buong-loob na papasanin ang krus ng<span style="letter-spacing: 2.0pt;"> </span>laban kontra sa Cha-cha para ang ating
bayan ay maging tunay na bayang magiliw.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="margin-top: .05pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: small;">Focus<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>on<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>true<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>needs<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">Pinoys</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-top: 3.7pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 6.05pt; margin-top: .05pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Fr. Antonio Labiao, Caritas’ executive secretary, said
that instead of tinkering with the Constitution, the government should instead
work to eradicate corruption, protect the environment, break political
dynasties, and ensure electoral integrity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 5.95pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">“A just and<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>equitable<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>society<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">
</span>for<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>all<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>Filipinos<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>cannot<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>be<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>achieved<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>through<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">
</span>self-serving<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>Charter changes,
but through a genuine commitment to the people’s welfare. We urge the
government to fulfill its duty and prioritize the needs of its citizens,”
Labiao said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 6.05pt; margin-top: .05pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Josua Mata of Nagkaisa Labor Coalition and Kalipunan ng
Kilusang Masa said what the people truly need are living wages, jobs and
rights.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 5.65pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">“Kung wala dito ang puso ninyo, malamang kapangyarihan
at kayamanan lang ang habol ninyo!” Mata said. “We urge our legislators to
prioritize policies that would address the chronic poverty amidst the widening
gap of income inequality in the country.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 6.1pt; margin-top: .05pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Akbayan Youth chairperson Justine Balane said student<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>councils,<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">
</span>Sanggunian<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>Kabataan<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;"> </span>and youth leaders all over the country are
rising up against Charter change, which he said will “short-change” the youth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 5.8pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">“The youth rejects a future where the elite have unlimited
years in power, our economy is owned by foreign<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>billionaires,<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>the<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>people<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>are<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>starved<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>of<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>their<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>human<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;">
</span>rights,”<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>Balane<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>said. “Walang pakinabang ang kabataan at
mag-aaral sa cha-cha. This trapo-led charter change will only short-change our
future.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 115%;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 5.65pt; margin-top: 4.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">“In the face of our nation's pressing problems, present
Charter Change initiatives are<span style="letter-spacing: 2.0pt;"> </span>divisive,
wasteful and unnecessary. We urge our politicians to put solving our people's
hunger, poverty, and poor education first!” said Ging Quintos Deles of Tindig
Pilipinas and Buhay Ang EDSA Campaign Network.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 5.7pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Koalisyon Laban sa Cha-cha vowed to sustain its efforts
to defend democracy. “We are Filipinos. We have the responsibility, courage,
and fervor to strive for the governance of truth,<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>justice,<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>freedom,<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>love,<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;">
</span>equality,<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>peace<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;">
</span>in<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>this<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>generation<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>and<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>future<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>generations,”<span style="letter-spacing: -.15pt;"> </span>it <span style="letter-spacing: -.1pt;">said.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.0pt; margin-right: 5.7pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.1pt; margin-right: 5.65pt; margin-top: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">Photos
can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/pfbid0dm6214WyUYrZUgo9tQC3BAid3KuEcUBvCSF67xRcc1CvDR1zkknzTnFmQkSDt5ckl<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 5.1pt; margin-right: 5.65pt; margin-top: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><h1 style="margin-top: 4pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>PRESS<span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">RELEASE</span></i></span></span></h1><h1 style="margin-top: 4pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>February<span style="letter-spacing: -0.3pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">14,</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.25pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.2pt; text-align: justify;">2024</span></i></span></h1><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-12518892324607672562024-02-13T10:50:00.001+08:002024-02-13T10:50:20.301+08:00Advance basic sectors’ agenda, not charter change for the rich and foreign capital<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gVTiqT3o9BzOXjZaTfw-bQckuyze8Ox17EQKCHmuMjBaDX9QGRGnR98rReYNoedxQOdJzY7fyHo1gNtcEs7y6mKcZWtxd0yc7kE2bVn7M34ugbZdPKJcqbF06vDZDvgV6xVbFuyQlqgZYx_KghjA9oirzZ0qHCQtro9sGtFE4x13REEX1C1usvlPefJt/s2040/423600013_1409004459721956_6892507748468633159_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1530" data-original-width="2040" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gVTiqT3o9BzOXjZaTfw-bQckuyze8Ox17EQKCHmuMjBaDX9QGRGnR98rReYNoedxQOdJzY7fyHo1gNtcEs7y6mKcZWtxd0yc7kE2bVn7M34ugbZdPKJcqbF06vDZDvgV6xVbFuyQlqgZYx_KghjA9oirzZ0qHCQtro9sGtFE4x13REEX1C1usvlPefJt/s320/423600013_1409004459721956_6892507748468633159_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Members of the NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition staged another
protest in front of the Senate on the eve of Valentine's Day against charter
change (chacha), simultaneous with the Senate's ongoing investigation into
reported anomalies in the gathering of signatures for the people’s initiative
(PI) to amend the Constitution.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Joined by Kalipunan ng mga Kilusang Masa (KALIPUNAN), the
two groups urged the Senate and the House of Representatives to prioritize the
immediate needs of the working people, such as increasing workers' wages,
lowering the prices of goods, jobs crisis, combating poverty and violence,
including those against women, and addressing the climate crisis, which is the
biggest global problem today.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Ang dapat pusuan ng mga mambabatas ay wage hike at pagkamit
sa living wage, hindi ang chacha para sa mayaman at dayuhan," said Partido
Manggagawa (PM) Secretary General Judy Ann Miranda, challenging the Senate to
finally pass the proposed P100 wage hike bill, which was already reported in
plenary by Committee on Labor Chair Sen. Jinggoy Estrada last week.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Miranda emphasized that the same should be done in the House
of Representatives, where bills proposing P150, P750 and P33,000/month for
public sector workers wage hikes as well as the abolition of regional wage
boards are pending, instead of leading a fake people’s initiative.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Furthermore, creating green and climate jobs to address
chronic unemployment and climate crisis is a new social imperative that
Congress needs to decisively address, said Miranda.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, Josua Mata, one of the conveners of NAGKAISA! and
Secretary General of the Sentro ng Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa
(SENTRO), stated that even the ongoing Senate hearings on economic charter
change not only consume time but also divert attention from the real problems
of the masses because the blame is placed on the Constitution rather than on
the unequal distribution of wealth and dynastic governance in our country.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">"The Constitution did not hinder us from developing our
own industries. But we don't even have an industrial policy. In fact, foreign
interest prevented us from doing so through the dictates of the IMF-WB and WTO
for liberalization, deregulation, and privatization. But why are we blaming the
Constitution now,” asked Mata to the proponents of economic charter change.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mata also warned that opening up charter change in many ways
could also lead to disregarding its provision prohibiting the entry of nuclear
arms into the country, especially when the same is not strictly enforced in the
case of the entry of US military hardware into the country.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is a reaction to reports that the Philippines is
expecting the arrival of nuclear-capable BraHmos supersonic missiles imported
from India for P21 billion. "Is there a plan for the Philippines to become
a nuclear power while the majority of Filipinos remain poor?"</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Photos can be accessed at PM FB page: https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/posts/pfbid02Zi4mJTniMUU3EHTybNhUKHqFZv3EeZUs2fpK17pP7DNkq2QDLikFcVeMeHnDmzYNl</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><b>NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition<o:p></o:p></b></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>February 13, 2024</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-54140606857151442242024-02-12T23:41:00.006+08:002024-02-13T13:53:00.438+08:00Press Conference tom of Church Groups & People’s Movements Broad Coalition to Oppose Charter Change<p style="text-align: center;"> <b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">MEDIA ADVISORY</span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">KOALISYON LABAN SA CHACHA!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Church Groups, People’s Movements Form Broad
Coalition <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">to Oppose Charter Change<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">February 14, Wednesday, 9AM<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">4th floor Conference Room, Arzobispado de
Manila, Intramuros, Manila<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Contact Person: Jing (+63 939 330 6179)
& Wilson (+63 917 817 8263)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Various
church groups and people's movements and organizations will hold a <b>press
conference</b> to launch <b>Koalisyon Laban sa ChaCha</b>, a new broad alliance
to campaign against the push for Charter Change (ChaCha). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">The
coalition comprises <b>more than 30 member groups</b> committed to upholding
the constitution and promoting the interests and welfare of the Filipino
people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">It
also seeks to protect the sanctity of democratic processes and <b>oppose any
forms of charter change</b>, especially those that aim to deceive and undermine
the will of the people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Joining
the press conference are convenors and leaders of the group namely Kidapawan
Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo/San Carlos Bishop Gerry Alminaza (CBCP Social
Action, Justice and Peace/Caritas Pilipinas), Bishop Jonel Milan (K4Philippines
Intercessors Movement), Ms. Minnie Anne Mata-Calub (National Council of
Churches in the Philippines), Ms. Teresita Quintos Deles (Tindig
Pilipinas/Buhay ang EDSA Campaign Network), Mr. Josua Mata (NAGKAISA Labor
Coalition/KALIPUNAN ng Kilusang Masa), Justine Balane (AKBAYAN Youth) and
Senator Risa Hontiveros.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif;">Photo
opportunities will be made available.<b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-76738283951451457712024-02-12T13:41:00.004+08:002024-02-12T23:47:54.477+08:00ADVISORY: Workers rally at Senate today vs chacha<p>MEDIA ADVISORY</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Request for coverage<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">13 February 2024<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">KALIPUNAN<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kalipunan ng mga Kilusang Masa<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Invites the media to cover our anti-charter change rally at
the Senate as it resumes its committee investigation tomorrow, on the anomalies
attending the conduct of the people’s initiative (P.I.) <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">WHEN: February 13, 2024 (Today)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">TIME: 9:00 AM<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">WHERE: The Philippine Senate in Pasay City<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Aside from opposing chacha, Nagkaisa! and Kalipunan also
call on the Senate and the whole Congress to attend to the more pressing issues
such as the intensifying cost-of-living and climate crises, rather than
spoiling its time attempting to revise the Constitution. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Photo ops available.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">—————<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For details contact: Judy Miranda @ 09175570777<o:p></o:p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-43228601878776633182024-02-11T20:11:00.003+08:002024-02-11T20:11:54.314+08:00Workers rally vs chacha at Senate on Tuesday<p>Media Advisory</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">February 11,
2024<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Partido Manggagawa<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Workers rally
vs chacha at Senate on Tuesday<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Building on
two previous demonstrations at the Senate, a bigger contingent of workers will return
on February 13 (Tuesday) morning to express their opposition to charter change.
The protest coincides with a hearing on the controversial people’s initiative.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The rally
is also a follow up to the successful unity ride against chacha today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Workers are
calling on the Senate to pass the proposed P100 wage hike and other pro-labor
and pro-people bills instead of acting on the Resolution of Both Houses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Photo
opportunities will be available.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-76276084244101260842024-02-11T11:10:00.003+08:002024-02-11T11:10:15.188+08:00Focus on Amending the 'Doble-Plaka' Law, Not the Constitution – Rider Groups Assert<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH88ueHybl9gMr5fb3zu3h9Daq5iG3P_AaKI3lBnGVZSZrLVZzd6AFqaiWE7V2mTXHKEPUJ2FG0QiAClvNL4n6IqpfN3PKDshPDezVNRlOyRyhbUuchS4TIK7IV3fCpnHQML5jLardJZVMB9e1HyqZgGtoP5UaK48xkf6lVEM-2hu_CnmEntD_i2qLG62p/s1600/unity%20ride%20vs%20chacha1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1600" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH88ueHybl9gMr5fb3zu3h9Daq5iG3P_AaKI3lBnGVZSZrLVZzd6AFqaiWE7V2mTXHKEPUJ2FG0QiAClvNL4n6IqpfN3PKDshPDezVNRlOyRyhbUuchS4TIK7IV3fCpnHQML5jLardJZVMB9e1HyqZgGtoP5UaK48xkf6lVEM-2hu_CnmEntD_i2qLG62p/s320/unity%20ride%20vs%20chacha1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Rider groups, on Sunday, embarked for another Unity Ride
from the Commission of Human Rights to the People Power Monument. Their aim: to
oppose efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution, arguing that the time and
resources allocated by Congress to this effort would be better directed towards
passing legislation that safeguards and promotes the interests of marginalized
communities, including riders.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Representatives from Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong (Kagulong)
and other rider groups participating in the protest emphasized the importance
of addressing proposed changes to RA 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention
Act, commonly known as the ‘Doble-Plaka’ law. This law is resented strongly by
the motorcycle riding community prior and until its enactment in March 2019,
prompting former President Rodrigo Duterte to temporarily suspend its
implementation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The distraction posed by charter change (cha-cha) efforts
could potentially impede the much-needed amendments to the Doble-Plaka law,
especially with the attention of lawmakers divided between the people's
initiative and the upcoming 2025 national and local elections,” Kagulong
emphasized in a statement to the media.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Senator JV Ejercito, a rider himself and a passionate
motorcycle enthusiast, joined the Unity Ride in solidarity with the riders as
he, along with his fellow senators, opposed the House-led people's initiative
(PI). <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Senator JV Ejercito is also the principal author of Senate
Bill 159 which seeks amendments to the Doble-Plaka law.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kagulong highlighted the riders' demand for amendments to
the oppressive penalties imposed against violators of this law (ranging from
P50,000 – P100,000 with imprisonment), as well as the discriminatory aspects of
the Doble-Plaka policy to motorcycle riders compared to other vehicle owners.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In addition to advocating for changes to the 'Doble-Plaka'
law, riders are also pushing for the passage of several bills aimed at
recognizing and protecting the rights of platform workers, including delivery
riders who often face job insecurity and lack social security coverage.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Measures legalizing the operations of motorcycle taxis are
also awaiting consideration in Congress.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">"These are the urgent issues that concern riders. There
is nothing about cha-cha in our agenda," Kagulong concluded.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Videos can be accessed at
https://www.facebook.com/partidomanggagawa/videos/707444054777286<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><b>Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong (KAGULONG)</b></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><b><o:p></o:p></b></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>11 February 2024</i></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4536005866777699863.post-72339848942094767342024-02-10T13:51:00.001+08:002024-02-10T13:51:11.079+08:00Labor group slams Laguesma’s doomsday scenario<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdgTddbgZucBsE2bA_jLFBOQG7WHKzlHTMvomCPqHmW17_ro4twUPjGnrfK0Jb_wkV9SoSryBQaklkQM1nAqS4ufo-jzvksmkhO0FHhep3imXTskSkvicf22c9ByoF3v8kO8qVqhqbiFsZEL21LU8xt0QAetEkjqHX0oTpfQzsj_BEWPG_-n8FO_KVIbV/s2048/Senate%20Chicha%20di%20chacha%2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdgTddbgZucBsE2bA_jLFBOQG7WHKzlHTMvomCPqHmW17_ro4twUPjGnrfK0Jb_wkV9SoSryBQaklkQM1nAqS4ufo-jzvksmkhO0FHhep3imXTskSkvicf22c9ByoF3v8kO8qVqhqbiFsZEL21LU8xt0QAetEkjqHX0oTpfQzsj_BEWPG_-n8FO_KVIbV/s320/Senate%20Chicha%20di%20chacha%2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) slammed DOLE Secretary
Bienvenido Laguesma for speculating that the P100 legislated wage hike will
have an adverse impact on the economy, especially on small and medium enterprises.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Labor Secretary Laguesma is singing the same old song with employers
about economic difficulties once workers are granted a substantial wage hike.
But they are singing out of tune as their doomsday scenario is refuted by economic
indicators. Inflation and unemployment subsided since regional wages were
increased in the latter half of 2023,” stated Rene Magtubo, PM national chair
and Marikina city councilor.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">PM welcomed the plenary deliberations in the Senate on the proposed P100
legislated wage hike bill. PM and other groups in Nagkaisa are returning to the
Senate on Tuesday for a bigger action to demand the passage of the proposed
nationwide salary increase and also call for the scrapping of the charter
change proposal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">According to latest figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority, headline
inflation as of January 2024 is at a very low 2.8%, much reduced from the 4.7%
in July 2023, when the NCR wage board ordered a P40 minimum wage hike.
Inflation for year 2022 was 5.8%. Meanwhile unemployment is at 3.1% as of
December 2023, down from 4.8% in July 2023. In 2022, annual unemployment was at
5.4%.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">After the NCR wage board issued an order, other regional boards
successively granted minimum wage increases in the succeeding months of 2023
and up to January this year.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Workers in all regions got minimum wage hikes in 2022. Further, all
regional wage boards, except the one in BARMM, issued wage orders in 2023. In
all that time, inflation and unemployment went on a secular decline in
opposition to the dire predictions of employers and the DOLE,” Magtubo
explained.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">He added that “We call on the Senate and the House not to be blackmailed
by the apocalyptic forecasts of enemies of the working class.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">PM has been advocating for “Chicha not chacha” in the face of the
trapo-driven people’s initiative and the proposed Resolution of Both Houses 6.
The group argues that the pro-worker and social justice provisions of the
Constitution must be enforced. PM opposes amending the Constitution to pave the
way for more foreign control of the economy and greater trapo domination of
politics.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>February 10, 2024</i></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Partido ng Manggagawa is a political party of the Filipino Working Class.</div>Juan Manggagawahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07509917519218148447noreply@blogger.com0