Structural reforms needed as free market policies collide with public interest

 

Partido Manggagawa finds the decision of President Marcos to place the country under a state of energy emergency an attempt to show the people that the government is in control. The truth is, it is not.

 

In the midst of the current price shocks, it is becoming clearer that the Philippine government is incapable of protecting the Filipino people because of the limitations imposed by the free market framework of the Oil Deregulation Law (RA 8479).

 

It is not because the Philippine State lacked powers to deal with any emergency. Its problem now is how to extricate itself from the dilemma of trying to demonstrate control against the fact that it is deregulation and privatization policies that truly commands the economy.

 

Despite Palace’s assurances that they are “closely monitoring” price movements, the stark reality is that it has very limited capacity to directly influence fuel prices or stabilize supply. Under full deregulation, oil importation, pricing, and distribution are almost entirely in the hands of private companies.

 

Even the Price Act (RA 7581) which provides for the imposition of price ceilings in times of emergencies, cannot provide meaningful relief because oil and related products are not part of prime commodities covered under the law.

 

Another example is the Electric Power Reform Act (EPIRA). Its Sec. 71 provided the President emergency powers during a crisis. Yet it is hardly exercised against the power oligarchs who exercise total control of the privatized power industry. We also have very strong climate commitments, yet our planned transition is very dependent on private investments and the leadership of the private sector.    

 

The State is well aware of the need for emergency intervention to prevent profiteering by private companies and protect consumers, however, market liberalization remains an overarching economic policy, thus, discourages or even disables such intervention. This situation exposes workers and farmers to the full impact of global price shocks.

 

The government must, thus, address the contradiction between emergency response and its free market policy.

 

The government must therefore consider reforming or replacing the Oil Deregulation Law an immediate agenda. Energy is a strategic necessity that should not be left to the full discretion of market forces because it would undermine both economic stability and social justice. It is time to reclaim the State’s role in ensuring affordable and accessible energy for all.

 

In addition, it should address the chronic vulnerabilities of many sectors like in the case of ordinary workers whose life of poverty and insecurity are compounded by low wages, suppressed rights, and inadequate social protection.

 

This crisis situation likewise calls for the passage of the bill for wage hike and establishing the National Minimum Wage Law.

 

PRESS STATEMENT

25 March 2026

PM Urges Passage of the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill

Photo from UPS Cebu

 

In a rally together with the Reproductive Health Advocacy Network (RHAN) organizations at the House of Representatives, Partido Manggagawa called on the Congress of the Philippines to urgently pass the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (APP) Bill, as supporters of the measure gathered again to push for its approval.

 

Together with Partido Manggagawa Kabataan and Tara Kabataan, the party stressed that a comprehensive government response is urgently needed to protect young people from early pregnancy.

 

According to Judy Ann Miranda, Secretary General of Partido Manggagawa, the scale of adolescent pregnancy in the Philippines demands immediate action.

 

“Mahigit 500 batang babae ang nagiging ina araw-araw. Ang mga buntis na wala pang 15 taong gulang ay tumaas ng 6.6% sa loob lamang ng apat na taon. Hindi ito mga numero lamang — ito ay aming mga kaklase, kaibigan, at kapatid,” said Red Collado, PM Kabataan spokesperson.

 

Miranda added that too many young people are being pushed deeper into poverty because they lack access to accurate information and adequate support.

 

“Masyado nang maraming kabataan ang nalulugmok sa kahirapan dahil sa kakulangan ng impormasyon at suporta,” she said.

 

Partido Manggagawa said the APP Bill seeks to strengthen protection for young people through comprehensive sexuality education in schools, the establishment of Adolescent Health Centers in every municipality, and the creation of social protection programs to ensure that pregnancy does not end a young person’s future.

 

“Ang APP Bill ay proteksyon — hindi banta. Ang mga paratang na makakasama ito sa kabataan ay nakabatay sa maling impormasyon. Hindi totoo na ilalayo nito ang mga kabataan sa kanilang mga magulang o prinsipyo. Sa halip, binibigyan nito ang kabataan ng tamang gabay mula sa mga guro, magulang, at komunidad,” Miranda explained.

 

She also stressed that the bill aims to ensure that young people have access to accurate information and health services, rather than relying on misinformation that spreads easily online.

 

“Sinasabi ng mga kalaban na mapipinsala nito ang kabataan. Ang sabi namin: nangyayari na ang pinsala — at nangyayari ito sa bawat araw na wala ang batas na ito,” Collado said.

 

Partido Manggagawa reiterated that the passage of the measure can no longer be delayed.

 

“Ang APP Bill ay hindi banta — ito ay proteksyon. Hindi na makakapaghintay ang ating mga kabataan. Tinatawagan namin ang Kongreso: ipasa na ang Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Bill,” Miranda said.

PRESS RELEASE

March 17, 2026

As workers face renewed jobs crisis, green public employment and industrial policy asked

 

Photo by Rappler

The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) today called on the Marcos Jr. administration to urgently rethink its economic and employment priorities following the sharp increase in unemployment recorded in January 2026. The group said the latest labor force figures show troubling signs for Filipino workers, with the unemployment rate climbing to 6 percent, a steep rise compared with 4.3 percent during the same period last year. The level is also approaching the rates seen near the end of the pandemic, when many Filipinos were still struggling to regain lost livelihoods.

 

“The unemployment spike is a warning sign that workers are being left behind. Government cannot sit back and wait for the private sector to solve the jobs crisis. It must actively create jobs and rebuild the economy around the needs of working people,” said Rene Magtubo, PM national chair and Marikina City councilor.

 

The labor organization also cautioned that external developments could further weaken job creation in the coming months. Heightened geopolitical tensions and the economic disruptions stemming from United States President Donald Trump’s war on Iran are already contributing to a global economic downturn.

 

Given these challenges, PM urged the government to immediately implement stronger public employment interventions to support displaced and underemployed workers. It proposed the establishment of a large-scale public jobs program that would provide sustained work rather than short-lived activities. The group stressed that existing programs that offer only a few days of temporary work are not enough to stabilize incomes.

 

Magtubo insisted that “Unlike existing short-term emergency programs that provide only a few days of work, the program should guarantee at least 100 days of paid employment per worker, prioritizing displaced workers, rural laborers, and communities heavily affected by climate disasters.”

 

PM suggested prioritizing green and climate-related jobs, particularly in rural areas where employment losses have been severe. Workers in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries have faced repeated setbacks due to destructive typhoons and widespread flooding linked to worsening climate conditions in recent years.

 

Projects focused on environmental rehabilitation, climate adaptation, and disaster prevention could both generate employment and strengthen the country’s resilience to climate impacts, the group said. Beyond emergency measures, PM stressed that the Philippines needs a long-term development strategy centered on job creation.

 

“We call for a state-led industrial policy that actively promotes labor-intensive industries capable of producing for the domestic market. The government must place decent work at the heart of economic policy. Without decisive action, rising unemployment will continue to undermine the livelihoods of working families across the country,” Magtubo argued.

PRESS RELEASE

March 13, 2026

Women workers on war and crisis

 

On International Women’s Day, Partido Manggagawa (PM) said that imperialist wars and global tensions are making life even harder for working women. Conflicts abroad are pushing up the prices of oil and fuel, which in turn raise the cost of transportation, electricity, and food in the Philippines. For many families already living on tight budgets, this means an even heavier daily struggle to make ends meet, which disproportionately falls on women who bear the burden of domestic and care work.

 

“Kapag may digmaan, hindi lang ito nararamdaman sa battlefield. Nararamdaman ito ng mga ordinaryong babae sa palengke, sa pamasahe, at sa pagba-budget ng maliit na kita ng pamilya,” said Judy Ann Miranda, secretary-general of the labor group. “Habang tumataas ang presyo ng langis at mga bilihin, ang mga manggagawang babae at mga nanay ang unang napipilitang magtipid at magsakripisyo para maitawid ang pamilya sa araw-araw.”

 

Miranda also pointed to the uncertain situation of many overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East, a large number of whom are women working as domestic workers and caregivers. “Maraming Pinay ang napilitang mangibang-bansa para alagaan ang mga pamilya ng iba. Iniwan nila ang sarili nilang mga anak para lang may maipadala sa Pilipinas. Ngayon, dahil sa tensyon at gyera sa rehiyon, sila na naman ang nanganganib mawalan ng trabaho o mapilitang lumikas,” she said.

 

The Cebu chapter of PM is holding a women’s day rally today while the Bacolod chapter is conducting an indoor gathering of women workers in urban and rural areas of Negros Island, including sugarcane farms. The main demands are wage hike, regular jobs, secure livelihood and social protection for workers of all genders, along with calls against US-Israel war and abuse of women.

 

Yesterday, women leaders of the PM in Metro Manila were gathered in an indoor forum to commemorate International Women’s Day and also plan for month-long activities to advance women’s advocacies such as community laundromats and whole-day long day care centers.

 

The group also criticized the sexist remark made by Cong. Suntay during a House hearing referencing actress Anne Curtis, which was later defended by lawyer Ferdinand Topacio. According to Judy Ann Miranda, these kinds of remarks reflect a deeper problem in society. “Hindi aksidente ang ganitong pagtingin sa kababaihan. Sa isang lipunang hindi pantay ang kapangyarihan at yaman, madalas ginagawang biro o bagay ang babae para manatiling mababa ang tingin sa kanila,” Miranda said. “Kapag minamaliit ang kababaihan, mas madaling balewalain ang kanilang mababang sahod, ang mabigat na trabaho sa bahay, at ang sakripisyo ng mga migranteng manggagawa. Kaya ang laban para sa respeto sa kababaihan ay kaugnay ng laban ng mga manggagawa para sa dignidad, disenteng kabuhayan, at tunay na pagkakapantay-pantay.”

Photos at FB: Partido Manggagawa

Press Release

Partido Manggagawa

March 8, 2026

Workers to Congress: Don’t exploit Middle East crisis to kill wage reform bill

 

Photo from ABS-CBN.com

The Partido Manggagawa (PM) on Wednesday called on the leadership and members of the House of Representatives to stay focused and continue deliberation of the bill abolishing the provincial rate in the face of the escalating military conflict in the Middle East.

 

PM Chair and former partylist representative Renato Magtubo made this call amid fear that the ongoing war could trigger restraint among policymakers, for instance, preventing the enactment of the Kamanggagawa wage reform bill which is awaiting plenary approval at the House of Representatives prior to the outbreak of the Middle East crisis.

 

Local pump prices of oil have started to spike despite the assurance made by the Department of Energy (DoE) that the country has enough inventory. The Philippine peso weakened further since Monday. Prices of agricultural inputs are expected to rise also as more than 80% of fertilizer supply is imported.

 

“Our economic managers, in tandem with capital, are very clever at throwing a monkey-wrench to any wage proposal even under normal conditions. Now they will surely exploit the Middle East crisis to kill the wage reform bill. The House must shield itself from this kind of pressure,” stated Magtubo.

 

Abolishing the provincial rate by establishing a national minimum wage and designating the NCR rate as floor wage is an initial step aimed at rectifying 36 years of injustice under the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB), explained Magtubo.

 

“Living wage remains the ultimate ‘regime change’ workers will continue to demand,” added Magtubo.

 

“Nadamay at pinahirapan na nga tayo ng ‘regime change’ project ni Donald Trump at Netanyahu sa Iran. Huwag nang dagdagan pa ang pasaning ito sa pamamagitan ng pagpatay sa panukalang wage reform law,” concluded Magtubo.

PRESS RELEASE

Partido Manggagawa

04 March 2026