18 Aug 2023 – NTUC Phl 2nd Convention elects first woman president of a national center in the Philippines.

August 21 at 11:15 AM
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The National Trade Union Center of the Philippines (NTUC Phl) held its 2nd National Convention on August 18, 2023, at the Brentwood Hotel in Quezon City.

The Convention was attended by over 150 delegates from trade unions all over the country, as well as guests from international and local organizations.

NTUC Phl President Rodolfo Capoquian in his welcome address highlighted the importance of trade unions in fighting for the rights of workers and in promoting social justice.

The representative of Quezon City Mayor Maria Josefina ‘Joy’ Belmonte (Rogelio Reyes), Federation of Free Workers President Jose ‘Sonny’ Matula, NCMB Executive Director Maria Teresita Lacsamana-Cancio on behalf of DOLE, and ITUC Asia Pacific General Secretary Shoya Yoshida addressed the opening session.

Solidarity messages were received from international and local organizations, via video (ITUC Acting General Secretary Luc Triangle, ILO ACTRAV Director Ma. Helena Andre, South Asia Regional Trade Union Council (SARTUC) General Secretary Laxman Basnet, Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Chair Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, the KSTL Timor Leste President; via Zoom (ATUC President Andi Gani Nena Wea, from JTUC/RENGO), and letters (Education International Regional Director Anand Singh, Japan International Labour Foundation (JILAF), DGB German Trade Union Confederation, ATUC affiliates CTU Myanmar, SERC Thailand, and Vietnam GCL).

The convention heard the report of the President for 2018-2023, adopted scores of resolutions to give directions to NTUC Phl’s programs in 2023-2028, and elected new officers: President Milagros Ogalinda, General Secretary Rodolfo Capoquian, Deputy General Secretary Angelita Senorin, Treasurer Rainier Cruz, and Assistant Treasurer Cyril Doctor. Twelve elective members of the Executive Board were also elected.

Among the resolutions:
Support for ILO Convention 190 on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work; Immediate remedy for gaps in laws, regulations, and practices in freedom of association identified in the ILO high-level mission of 2009 and 2023; Ratification of ILO Convention No. 11 on the Freedom of Association of Agricultural Workers; Accelerating labor justice and execution of judgment;
Reviewing the minimum wage-fixing system towards national living wages;
Encouraging NTUC Phl affiliates to actively seek sectoral representation in LGUs, particularly women and youth; in regional development councils; in regional, industry provincial, city/municipal industrial peace councils, and the like.

President Ogalinda vowed to continue the fight for the rights of workers and programs for women and youth under her leadership.

The delegates and guests joined group photos with hand-held posters supporting the ratification of ILO C190 and reiterating support for the CTU of Myanmar and the people of Myanmar.