Malacañang vows to look into plight of port workers

Malacañang said yesterday it will do all it can to alleviate the plight of port workers who are restive over a recall of the 10-percent increase in stevedoring and arrastre charges.

Acting Press Secretary Silvestre Afable Jr., who is also head of the Presidential Management Staff, issued a statement yesterday on reports that port workers were growing restless over the unreasonable demand of shipping operators, importers and exporters for a rollback of port tariffs.

"It is the policy of the government to give preferential treatment to the plight of workers, and to do all it can to alleviate their plight," Afable said in his statement.

"The government will consistently act within this policy line," Afable said.

Port workers are pinning their hopes for better benefits on high port collections that will be generated from the tariff rate increase.