Big labor group throws support behind GMA

CEBU CITY — President Arroyo received last night a manifesto of support and endorsement by the combined 1.2 million-strong Associated Labor Unions and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP).

A visibly elated Mrs. Arroyo got a post-birthday gift from one of the country’s largest labor groups, which passed a resolution of support and endorsement of her candidacy in the coming May 10 elections.

ALU-TUCP national president Democrito Mendoza and national executive vice president Cecilio Seno signed the "Manifesto of Solidarity" with the President.

Ironically, the TUCP secretary-general is former Sen. Ernesto Herrera, who is running on the senatorial ticket of the opposition Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP), which has movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. as its standard-bearer.

Both the ALU and TUCP are seeking congressional seats under the party-list system.

The President received the manifesto during a program held last night at the Waterfront Cebu City hotel, there the ALU-TUCP celebrated their 50th anniversary.

"Reminded of the contributions of the present administration in promoting the welfare of workers, particularly in health care, housing, labor relations, among other areas," the manifesto stated the labor groups have put their support "squarely behind the candidacy of Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in her bid for a full six-year term."

The ALU-TUCP cited the President for her "steady, experienced and credible leadership," saying the labor sector benefited from her administration’s policies, which attracted a greater influx of foreign investments, providing "business confidence and, consequently, the job security of millions of workers."

The President has renewed her pledge to the ALU-TUCP to create one million new jobs each year over the next six years with a "high wage" policy for workers.

"I am so happy that we today formalized our alliance," the President told the ALU-TUCP convention delegates.

"I consider the ALU-TUCP as the mainstream and biggest federation of the labor movement and, therefore, (TUCP president) Tito Mendoza is a true representative of the labor movement," she said.

The President elevated the ALU-TUCP to the status of "coalition partners" of the administration Koalisyon ng Karanasan at Katapatan para sa Kinabukasan (K-4) in their respective bids for representation in Congress.

She also described the ALU-TUCP as the kind of labor movement that promotes the welfare and well-being of worker-members by not engaging in "hogging headlines and making unreasonable demands that cause factories to close down and the economy to go under."

"That kind of labor union is not interested in the welfare of workers, but (intends) to bring down our very good and effective free enterprise system," she said.

"Your understanding of the world situation, the regional situation and your responsible response to that is what makes the difference from the 150,000 jobs a year of former President (Joseph) Estrada to the 1.1 million jobs a year of President Arroyo," the President said. — Marichu Villanueva