Workers urged to make protest rallies on Labor Day peaceful

CEBU, Philippines -  While acknowledging the constitutional right to express the sentiments of labor groups, authorities yesterday appealed for more peaceful and tolerable protests and rallies during Labor Day.

Department of Labor and Employment-7 director Chona Mantilla said they were never against demonstrations as this has been part of democracy.

"We recognize that (rallies during Labor Day). This is part of the freedom of association and expression. Ang ato lang hangyo, nga unta peaceful lang ang rally kay part man ni siya sa ilang rights," Mantilla said.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama echoed the same appeal, stressing that freedom of expression should be taken with much responsibility.

"Part man na sa atong katungod ang freedom of expression, ang pagpadayag sa atong gibati. Pero ayaw lang pud palabi sa imong gibati," Rama said.

The mayor was present in yesterday's briefing at DOLE-7 office as Cebu City hosts this year's Labor Day activities in Central Visayas.

Luciano Dichos, labor representative to the Regional Tripartite Industrial Peace Council, also shared that laborers should be thankful of their jobs.

He emphasized the benefit that workers can get out of the harmony between employees and employers.

"Unta magpadayun ang kahapsay aron mapatuman ang productivity sa atong trabahuan. Wala untay kasikas ug magpabiling magbaton sa kalinaw sa mga buhatan," Dichos said.

The highlight of this year's Labor Day celebration is a series and simultaneous jobs fair in Cebu, Bohol, and Negros Oriental.

Cebu expects to hire 17,500 individuals in its mega job fair in SM City Cebu, SM Consolacion, Abellana National School, Cebu Provincial Capitol.

Of these, 11,000 are overseas job vacancies while the remaining 6,000 are for local companies, Mantilla said.

Robinsons Dumaguete City will be the venue in Negros Oriental while another one will be in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

This year's Labor Day celebration revolves around the theme "Sa Sipag, Tiyaga, at Talino, Buong Mundo Saludo sa Manggagawang Pilipino."

Mantilla said that the employment rate in Central Visayas for the first two quarters this year is at 93.7 percent with about six to seven percent unemployment rate. (FREEMAN)