Showing posts with label Zoilo Dela Cruz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zoilo Dela Cruz. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

‘Father of 13th month pay’ passes away

Bacolod City, Negros Occ. (PNA) – Negrense labor leader Zoilo de la Cruz, known as the “Father of 13th month pay,” passed away last Saturday, Dec. 13.

The 84-year-old former congressman succumbed to kidney failure at the Makati Medical Center, according to his son, Roland de la Cruz, who is Acting Director for Youth of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).

De la Cruz authored bills providing for employees’ 13th month pay (Presidential Decree No. 851), the Social Amelioration Program in the sugar industry, and payment of Cost of Living Allowance (Cola) to workers in the private sector.

He served in Congress from 1993 to 1998.

Known as a human rights advocate and a “true labor leader,” De la Cruz organized the Sugar Industry Foundation Inc. (SIFI) and was one of the founders of the TUCP.

The younger De la Cruz said his father’s remains will be brought home to Negros on Dec. 19 where it will lie in state at the Sugar Workers’ Livelihood Center of the Department of Labor and Employment Provincial Office in Bacolod City.

On Dec. 20, a necrological service will be offered by different labor union organizations at the Sugar Workers’ Livelihood Center at 9 in the morning. On Dec. 21, he will be brought to Barangay Sum-ag in Bacolod for another necrological mass at the compound of former board member Nehemias de la Cruz at 4 p.m.

His remains will be flown back to Manila on Dec. 22 to Manila, where it will be cremated. - Manila Bulletin

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Labor leader passes away

National labor leader and human rights fighter Zoilo “Zoy” De La Cruz of Bacolod City passed away at the Makati Medical Center in Makati City 9:40 p.m. Saturday.

De la Cruz, 84, a former labor sector representative in the House of Representatives, peacefully passed away surrounded by his children, his son Roland de la Cruz, former Murcia town councilor, who is also a labor leader, said yesterday.

Zoilo, who was suffering from kidney failure, had been undergoing dialysis for a year, his son said.

He dedicated his life to the welfare of workers, about whom he was very passionate up to the very end, said Roland, whose father was also a lawyer.

“My father’s priorities had always been God, the workers, and family in that order,” his son said.

A pillar of the trade union movement, my father, from his sick bed, reminded us to never give up the fight for the welfare of the workers, especially in the sugar industry, his son added.

De la Cruz, at the time of his death, was president of the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines and numerous other labor groups, and national treasurer of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.

He conceptualized the Social Amelioration Program in the Sugar Industry, the 13th Month Pay, Cost of Living Allowance, and housing projects for sugar mills workers, his biodata states.

His remains that are now at the Santuario de San Antonio in Makati City, will be flown from Metro Manila to Negros Occidental on Friday, where it will lie in state at the Sugar Workers Livelihood Center in Bacolod City.

A necrological mass will be held at the Sugar Workers Livelihood Center in Bacolod City 9 a.m. Saturday, after which his remains will be transferred to the family home in Barangay Sum-ag, Bacolod.

Zoilo’s remains will be flown back to Manila for cremation on Monday and laid to rest at the Santuario de San Antonio crypt in Forbes Park, Makati City, Roland said.

He is survived by his children Jess, Linus, Benjie, Zoly, Lizalyn, Roland and Vivian.*CPG - BY CARLA GOMEZ - Visayan Daliy Star

Monday, December 15, 2014

Negros labor leader Atty. Zoilo V. de la Cruz passed away


Atty. Zoilo V. de la Cruz

The officers, staff and local union members of Pambansang Kilusan ng Paggawa (KILUSAN)- TUCP  through its president, Arthur Juego,  would like to extend condolences to the family, relatives and friends of Atty. Zoilo V. de la Cruz who passed away Saturday evening.

Atty. Zoilo V. de la Cruz, served as national president of the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippines (NACUSIP) , treasurer of Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP and in Philippine Congress from 1993 to 1998.