Labor group kay Abaya: Mag-sorry ka sa MRT passengers

Ni Ellaine Dorothy S. Cal at Jean Fernando / Balita.net.ph

Hinamon ng Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) si Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) Secretary Emilio Abaya na humingi ng dispensa sa mga biktima nang bumangga sa barrier ang tren ng Metro Rail Transit (MRT) sa Pasay-Taft station.

“We condemn the irresponsible statements made by Transportation and Communication Secretary Abaya,’ pahayag ni Alan Tanjusay, tagapagsalita ng Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).

Tinukoy ni Tanjusay ang sinabi ni Abaya sa panayam sa radyo na hindi sapilitan ang pagsakay sa MRT.

“It is a personal decision. I won’t go out of my way to convince the people to ride. Kanya-kanyang desisyon naman ‘yan. Malayang bansa naman ito,” naging pahayag ni Abaya sa radio interview.

Itinuring ng TUCP ang pahayag ni Abaya na “iresponsable” kaugnay sa naganap na aksidente kung saan 36 pasahero ang nasugatan.

“What are you transportation and communication secretary for, Mr. Abaya? Such disrespect is an affront to thousands of working people who have no other choice but to ride in the MRT to and from work. Such statement is a slap-on-face of all the victims of the unfortunate mishap which happened days ago,” ayon kay Tanjusay.

Aniya, ipinahihiwatig umano ni Abaya na malayang makasasakay sa ibang pampublikong sasakyan ang mga biyehero kung nangangamba sila sa kanilang kaligtasan.

Itinuring ni Tanjusay ang iniasta ni Abaya bilang insulto sa daan libong nagsisiksikan sa MRT araw-araw.

“Mr. Secretary, did you or are you, as the man in charge of the mass transportation in the country and as a public servant, gave the public, the MRT riders a choice? Kung meron bang ibang matinong mass transport na nagawa mo na bilang DOTC secretary, palagay mo pipila pa ba sila at sasakay pa ba sila sa delikado, siksikan, mabaho at peligrosong MRT train?” tanong ni Tanjusay.

Samantala, posibleng maharap sa kasong kriminal ang control center supervisor ng MRT 3 matapos makapagbigay ng kani-kanilang salaysay ang dalawang train operator hinggil sa insidente.

Ayon kay Chief Supt. Angelito de Juan, hepe ng Pasay City Police-Investigation Unit, pinadalhan na nila ng liham si Joey Diokno, control center supervisor ng MRT 3, upang magbigay linaw sa trahedya.

“Halos parehas ang ibinigay na statement ng dalawang operators kung paano ang kanilang gagawin na itoy base sa kautusan ni Diokno bago maganap ang insidente,” pahayag ni De Juan.

Pahayag ni Abaya sa MRT riders kinondena ng TUCP

KINONDENA ng Trade Union Congress of the Philippines ( TUCP), pinakamalaking labor group sa bansa, ang pahayag ni Communication Secretary Emilio Abaya ukol sa mga biktima ng aksidente ng MRT.

“We condemn the irresponsible statements made by Transportation and Communication Secretary Abaya over an interview with Radyo Inquirer the other day. He said that “riding (MRT) is a personal decision. I won’t go out of my way to convince the people to ride. Kanya-kanyang desisyon naman ’yan. Malayang bansa naman ito,” sabi ni TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay.

“What are you transportation and communication secretary for, Mr. Abaya? Such disrespect is an affront to thousands of working people who have no other choice but to ride in the MRT to and from work. Such statement is a slap-on-face of all the victims of the unfortunate mishap which happened days ago. In effect the secretary of transportation is telling the MRT victims: “Mag-sorry kayo sa sarili n’yo kung nabalian kayo o nalamog ka matapos tumilapon ang sinasakyan ninyong tren, malaya ka at choice mo yang sumakay ng MRT. Huwag mong sisihin ang gobyerno,” aniya.

Imbes na tiyakin ang kaligtasan, sinabi ni Tanjusay taliwas ang pahayag ni Abaya at nakaiinsulto sa libu-libong MRT rider na dahil sa wala silang mapagpipilian, kailangang pumila sila halos kilometrong pilahan at pagtiisan ang pulusyon upang makabili ng tiket para makarating sa kanilang paroroonan o pinapasukang trabaho.

“Mr. Secretary, did you or are you, as the man in charge of the mass transportation in the country and as a public servant, gave the public, the MRT riders a choice? Kung meron bang ibang matinong mass transport na nagawa mo na bilang DOTC secretary, palagay mo pipila pa ba sila at sasakay pa ba sila sa delikado, siksikan, mabaho at peligrosong MRT train? Obviously none. We, therefore, in behalf of the millions of riding Filipino public, demand that Mr. Abaya retract these statements and apologize in public,” Tanjusay said. - Jun Icban Legaspi/ Journal Online

TUCP: Probe foreign workers in PH

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is looking to curb the rising number of foreigners working in the country without government permits, claiming that this negatively impacts local industries and the employment situation of Filipinos.

The TUCP said the Senate and the House of Representatives must probe into this issue and come up with measures to address it.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested 50 Chinese, one British, and one Australian employed at the construction of a coal-fired plant in Davao City last week for working without required Alien Employment Permits.

The BI also deported last year more than 200 foreign workers for the same reason.

TUCP spokesman Alan Tanjusay pointed out that a Congress investigation would benefit not only local workers but migrant workers as well, since it would ensure better working conditions for them. – Solar News Online

Probe sought on surging number of foreign workers

MANILA, Philippines - The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) yesterday called on Congress to investigate the surging number of Chinese and other foreigners allegedly working illegally in the country.

TUCP said the Senate and the House of Representatives must conduct a probe and come up with measures to curb the rising number of foreigners working in the country without government permits because this has adverse implications on local industries and in the employment situation of Filipinos.

Under the law, foreigners seeking employment in the Philippines are required to apply for an Alien Employment Permit.

But last week, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested 50 Chinese, one British and one Australian employed at the construction of a coal-fired plant in Davao City for working without permits, the TUCP reported.

The BI also deported last year more than 200 foreign workers employed at construction sites in Bataan and Batangas provinces, again for working without permits, the labor group added.

“There is indeed a clear, continuing and growing violation of our domestic laws. This further undermines the job security in the country as they compete with the already limited jobs generated for the Filipinos in our homeland,” TUCP spokesman Alan Tanjusay pointed out.

TUCP party-list Rep. Raymond Mendoza earlier filed House Resolution 974, which seeks to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on illegal foreign workers in the country.

The investigation of Congress, Tanjusay noted, would benefit not only local workers but migrant workers as well, since it would ensure better working conditions for them.

Currently, illegal migrant workers are not covered by the law and therefore vulnerable to violation and exploitation of their basic rights.

Tanjusay also clarified that the TUCP is not against the entry of foreign workers in the country, but of its adverse impact on employment of Filipino workers, who leave the country to work abroad simply because there are no available jobs for them here.

- By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)