Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III on Friday credited President Rodrigo R. Duterte for the industrial peace being enjoyed by the country, such as that in the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) in Mariveles town, this province.
“I want to put on record that the major accomplishment of our President in the field of labor and employment is industrial peace. Hindi kagaya noong araw na maya’t maya may nagwewelga, nagmamartsa, nagmumurahang employer at employees (Unlike in the past when every now and then, there were strikes and protests, and employers and employees cursing at each other),” Bello said as he led the awarding of safety seals to eight FAB locators.
“Ngayon, ang mga employees mahal na nila ang employer at ang employer mahal nila ang kanilang employees (Now, the employees love their employers and vice versa). For once, the workers and the employers realize that they are partners in the business and if they want to succeed, kailangan magtulungan sila at iyan ang nangyayari sa panahon ng ating Pangulong Duterte (they need to help each other and this is happening in the time of our President Duterte).”
Engineer Emmanuel Pineda, administrator of the Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB), confirmed what the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has done for the Bataan freeport that has contributed to the prevailing industrial peace.
Operating at the FAB, which is under AFAB, are 92 enterprises with 38,323 workers.
Governor Albert Garcia, 2nd District Rep. Jose Enrique Garcia III, Vice Governor Crisanta Garcia, lawyer Tony Boy Roman, and mayors of 11 towns and one city thanked Bello for the assistance extended to the province.
“Saan mang lugar na kapag may establishment na may safety seal, ibig sabihin niyan ay isang workplace na sumusunod sa lahat ng patakaran (Anywhere, if an establishment has a safety seal, it means it complies with all regulations), compliant (with) all labor standards, compliant with all health protocols, kaya that is a safe workplace. So AFAB is a compliant business establishment,” Bello said.
He also led the awarding of DOLE livelihood programs and financial assistance to children of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Overseas Workers Welfare Agency at the Bunker, seat of the provincial government.
The mayors, led by Dinalupihan Mayor Maria Angela Garcia, president of the Bataan League of Municipalities, received from Bello certificates of eligibility to avail of 10 bancas each from DOLE.
Bello also witnessed the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced (TUPAD) workers’ payout of PHP4,200 for each of the 190 beneficiaries in Pilar town.
A similar payout also took place in Orion.
The TUPAD provides emergency employment for displaced workers. A beneficiary works for 10 days by either cleaning the barangay or planting vegetables for PHP420 a day.
Source: Philippines News Agency