MANILA, Philippines — Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite on Friday slammed the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) “consuelo de bobo” or mock consolation for ABS-CBN workers who lost their jobs after the House of Representatives panel extinguished the media giant’s bid for a new franchise.
“The Department of Labor and Employment’s recent announcement to aid displaced ABS-CBN employees is a mockery to 11,000 workers who just lost their livelihood in the middle of a pandemic,” Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand Gaite said in an online press conference of the Makabayan bloc.
“Hindi natin kailangan ng consuelo de bobo sa panahong ito ng pandemya at malawak na kagutuman. Ang kailangan ng manggagawa ay ibalik sa kanila ang kanilang trabaho, ibalik ang ABS-CBN!” he added.
(We don’t need a consuelo de bobo in this time of pandemic, what we need is for them to return to work, to return ABS-CBN.)
The media network has been off the air since May due to the cease and desist order of the National Telecommunications Commission issued against ABS-CBN after its 25-year franchise expired.
The decision to deny ABS-CBN to apply for a fresh franchise which was “based on personal grudges and allegations” led to unemployment of thousands of workers, Gaite added.
“The committee knew fully well that denying ABS-CBN’s franchise would lead to thousands of workers unemployed which will further monkey wrench our already dwindling economy. But they did it anyway without a shred of truth – all just to please President Duterte in his wish to bring down the Kapamilya network,” Gaite said.
In a statement, Labor Undersecretary Ana Dione said they are “ready to extend necessary assistance” to all displaced employees of ABS-CBN.
The labor department also said the ABS-CBN must assure separation benefits for employees who will be forced to lose their jobs following the franchise denial.