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
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Congress holds public hearing on Bangsamoro
FORMER House deputy speaker Pablo Garcia yesterday opposed the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) because Congress has no authority or competence to amend the Constitution to create another autonomous region.
Garcia expressed his views on the BBL during a public hearing and consultation on House Bill 4994 conducted by the Ad Hoc Committee led by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro) and Rep. Democrito Raymond Mendoza (TUCP Party-List).
Garcia said the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), created under Republic Act (RA) 6734 of 1989, and the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), created by RA 6766, are organic parts of the country's political subdivisions and cannot be abolished by just another congressional act.
But Rodriguez said laws are subject to amendments.
“There is no such thing as an irrepealable law. Pabling (Garcia) said only one (law) can be passed by Congress but that is not true because in 2001, RA 9054 was passed amending the organic acts. So, that is already a precedent,” Rodriguez said.
Repealable
“Congress cannot amend the Constitution, but any law, like the law for ARMM and CAR can be repealed anytime because laws are dynamic,” he added.
Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu, fourth district) said that there are many questions about the Bangsamoro and the public hearings are meant to address these and come up with the right legislation.
Rep. Francisco Ashley Acedillo of the Magdalo Party-List said that sustained peace and progress in Mindanao would also mean economic growth for Cebu and the rest of the Philippines.
Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia (Cebu, third district), Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City North), Rep. Mujib Hataman (Basilan), Rep. Tupay Loong (Sulu), Rep. Edgar Masongsong (1-Care Party-List), rep. Jorge Almonte (Misamis Occidental), Rep. Celso Lobregat (Zamboanga) and Rep. Neri Colminares (Bayan Muna) also attended the public hearing.
Mendoza said that while there were a few who opposed the passage of the BBL, majority of those who attended the 31 public hearings nationwide support it.
“We are talking here of ending a 40-year old rebellion. That's why the vast majority are for a Bangsamoro Basic Law,” Mendoza said. - By Elias O. Baquero - SunStar
Garcia expressed his views on the BBL during a public hearing and consultation on House Bill 4994 conducted by the Ad Hoc Committee led by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro) and Rep. Democrito Raymond Mendoza (TUCP Party-List).
Garcia said the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), created under Republic Act (RA) 6734 of 1989, and the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), created by RA 6766, are organic parts of the country's political subdivisions and cannot be abolished by just another congressional act.
But Rodriguez said laws are subject to amendments.
“There is no such thing as an irrepealable law. Pabling (Garcia) said only one (law) can be passed by Congress but that is not true because in 2001, RA 9054 was passed amending the organic acts. So, that is already a precedent,” Rodriguez said.
Repealable
“Congress cannot amend the Constitution, but any law, like the law for ARMM and CAR can be repealed anytime because laws are dynamic,” he added.
Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu, fourth district) said that there are many questions about the Bangsamoro and the public hearings are meant to address these and come up with the right legislation.
Rep. Francisco Ashley Acedillo of the Magdalo Party-List said that sustained peace and progress in Mindanao would also mean economic growth for Cebu and the rest of the Philippines.
Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia (Cebu, third district), Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City North), Rep. Mujib Hataman (Basilan), Rep. Tupay Loong (Sulu), Rep. Edgar Masongsong (1-Care Party-List), rep. Jorge Almonte (Misamis Occidental), Rep. Celso Lobregat (Zamboanga) and Rep. Neri Colminares (Bayan Muna) also attended the public hearing.
Mendoza said that while there were a few who opposed the passage of the BBL, majority of those who attended the 31 public hearings nationwide support it.
“We are talking here of ending a 40-year old rebellion. That's why the vast majority are for a Bangsamoro Basic Law,” Mendoza said. - By Elias O. Baquero - SunStar
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
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.
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