TUCP bats for empowerment of LGUs under new Charter

To spur economic growth and generate employment in the countryside, the country’s largest labor group pushed yesterday for greater empowerment of local government units (LGUs) under the new Constitution.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said workers want greater autonomy for LGUs.

Alex Aguilar, TUCP spokesman, said the empowerment of LGUs is one of the Charter amendments the workers nationwide are pushing for at this time since they have been relying mostly on the national government.

“This has stunted economic growth and the job generation program in the provinces,” Aguilar explained.

He said even the resolution of labor disputes takes a long time because all cases have to resolve by the national government, particularly by the secretary of the Department of Labor.

“But if LGUs are be given greater power,” Aguilar said, “disputes can be resolved immediately and the economy as well as employment generation would greatly improved.”

He said the TUCP is pushing for economic benefits to be provided under the Constitution in a bid to alleviate the living condition of poor workers nationwide.

Aguilar said the TUCP is hoping that concerned agencies would also look into economic provisions of the Constitution, particularly foreign investors’ greater ownership of land and other properties in the country. – Mayen Jaymalin, Philippine Star