MANILA, Philippines – Nagpahayag ng suporta ang Philippine Trade and General Workers Organization (PTGWO-TUCP), ang pinakamalaking pederasyon ng mga labor union at organisasyon sa bansa, sa naging desisyon ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na panatilihin sa puwesto si Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma.
“Sec. Benny has been exemplary in his performance as DOLE Secretary for the last three years. We wish to congratulate him for again earning the confidence of the President to continue to lead the DOLE,” ayon sa PTGWO.
Noong Hunyo 3 ay inanunsyo ni Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin na hindi tinanggap ni Pangulong Marcos ang courtesy resignation ni Laguesma.
“We are glad that His Excellency, President Marcos Jr., did not listen to the detractors of Sec. Benny. The negative aspersions cast against him are just preconceived bias, to say the least. Wala din namang nasabing di mabuti o di tamang ginawa ang ating butihing Kalihim para sa mga constituents ng DOLE,” pahayag ni PTGWO National President Arnel Dolendo.
“Ang katotohanan nito, napakahusay ng naging pamumuno ni Sec. Benny sa DOLE. Nakagagalak na ang naging sukatan ng ating mahal na Pangulo ay actual performance at hindi mga paninira lamang,” dagdag pa nito.
Ayon kay Dolendo, sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Laguesma ay nagkaroon ng disente at produktibong empleyo ang maraming manggagawa.
“We observed that DOLE as an institution strived for job generation with endeavors like internship, job fairs, emergency employment, and even livelihood programs. These programs aim to have low unemployment and underemployment rates,” dagdag pa nito.
Ibinida din ng grupo na sa ilalim ni Laguesma ay nagkaroon ng nationwide rollout ng Omnibus Guidelines in the Exercise of Freedom of Association and Civil Liberties.
“This was to uphold the principles mandated by the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 87 on workers’ freedom of association and the right to organize, and ILO Convention 98 on the right to collective bargaining,” paliwanag ni Dolendo.
Sinabi ni Dolendo na sa pamamagitan ng proyekto ng DOLE ukol sa freedom of association, maaaring maging institutionalized na ang pagpigil sa harassment sa ating mga labor and union leaders.
“We concede that there is still so much work for the DOLE, especially concerning the employees’ rights to organize, to freedom of association and collective bargaining, as well as the pursuit of industrial peace. We hope that Sec. Benny Laguesma would keep up the good work in leading the DOLE,” pagtatapos pa ni Dolendo. RNT
