Lawmaker says many labor unions now support Isko Moreno’s presidential bid

Rep. Rolando Valeriano. Facebook photo

MANILA, Philippines — A Manila City congressman said Wednesday that the presidential bid of Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso in next year’s election is now being backed by several labor unions.

Rep. Rolando Valeriano, of Manila City’s 2nd District, said labor unions from different companies met with city officials and registered their support to Moreno’s candidacy.

According to the lawmaker, these labor unions were from the Security Bank, Bank of Makati, Nestlé Cabuyao, Nestlé Lipa, Maynilad, and Manila Water.

“This is the third Sunday that union workers have met with Manila public officials,” Valeriano said in a statement. He was in a  meeting at the office of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) in Quezon City.

“Previously, the officers of the Bataan FPF employees Union, Monde MY San Workers Union, Monde MY San Calamba Workers Union, Miescor Builders Labor Organization, Meralco Industrial MIESCOR Employees Union also met with us and expressed support for Yorme Isko,” he also said

According to Valeriano, the unions are under the umbrella of the Philippine Trade and General Workers Organization (PTGWO), one of the biggest federation of labor unions listed by the Department of Labor and Employment.

According to PTGWO national president Arnel Dolendo, the members of their organization identify themselves with Moreno, who came from an impoverished community and worked to have a better life.

“Our members identify with Yorme Isko. Kami si Isko. Isang batang mahirap mula sa Tondo, na nagsumikap, naghanapbuhay at umasenso,” Dolendo said.

(Our members identify with Mayor Isko. We are Isko. We are the same poor child from Tondo who worked hard, worked passionately, and succeeded in life.)

“Sa panahon ng pandemya, sa kanyang Bilis Kilos, una ang Maynila sa pagbabakuna, sa pagtatayo ng ospital, sa pagbibigay ng gamot laban sa COVID, at sa pagbibigay ng ayuda.  Una na naging handang magbukas ang ekonomiya. Daan upang makabalik sa trabaho ang ang mga manggagawa. Ganitong klaseng lider ang ating kailangan. Gawa at hindi salita,” he added.

(In the time of a pandemic, through his Bilis Kilos program, Manila has been first in vaccinations, building hospitals, providing medicine against COVID-19, and giving social aid.  It is also first in being prepared to open the economy, and providing ways for workers to return to their jobs. We need a leader like that, who walks the talk.)

Valeriano said they expect more workers to support Moreno’s presidential run in 2022.

“Workers in all industries are now supporting Yorme. We have workers from the banking sector […] from the food sector,” he said.

“These workers are based nationwide. The workers’ support for Yorme is snowballing, and we are confident that this will continue,” he added.

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