Rosales to set up ‘Pondo ng Manggagawa’

MANILA, Philippines – After the successful “Pondo ng Pinoy,” Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales is setting up “Pondo ng Manggagawa” to help displaced and distressed workers nationwide.

“I am inclined to establish a Pondo ng Pinoy para sa Manggagawa and the fund to be generated from this program could be used to provide direct services to workers like providing free legal assistance,” the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) quoted Rosales as saying.

Rosales conceptualized the successful Pondo ng Pinoy, which the Catholic Church used to fund feeding programs, among other activities, to provide for the needs of poor families in the country.

The other day, the prelate hosted the “Church- Labor Conference” with union leaders at the Residencia de Arzobispado in Intramuros, Manila and committed to advocate for workers’ welfare together with organized labor.

This was the second time that the highest official of the Catholic Church in the Philippines met will labor leaders.

He met with a handful of union leaders and asked them to “concretize their demands” so he could generate support for the proposals last month.

During the meeting, Rosales expressed his full support for the demand of organized labor for the granting of unemployment insurance to workers displaced by the economic crisis.

He asked the trade unions to present their proposal, which will be discussed in the next meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

“Labor is very happy with the support of the Cardinal,” said Julius Cainglet, FFW media officer.

Cainglet said the meeting with Rosales is a clear indication of the commitment of the Cardinal to prioritize workers, especially now that the global financial crisis is taking its toll on labor.

Workers are also asking the Church to support a moratorium on demolitions, evictions and foreclosures of unpaid housing loans. They also want to put a stop to the increase of tuition and other fees.

Union leaders also urged the Cardinal to ensure that companies do not make the crisis an excuse to violate labor standards on job security, wages and working conditions.

The FFW has historical ties with the Church, having been established by a Jesuit priest almost 59 years ago.–-Mayen Jaymalin with Evelyn Macairan, Philippine Star