HONORABLE Presiding Officer, distinguished colleagues, friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen, maayong adlaw!
I rise today on a matter of collective privilege to echo the sentiments of more than 300 workers from Davao Mighty Steel Corporation. Yesterday, more than 200 of them were here at the Sangguniang Panlungsod to share their plight after the raid conducted at their plant in Bunawan, this City.
It can be recalled that last August 13, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), together with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), conducted a raid on Davao Mighty Steel Corporation, a steel manufacturing warehouse, resulting in the alleged rescue of 174 Filipino workers. Said industrial environment is allegedly found to contain radioactive materials that posed risks of continued occupational exposure.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), with the assistance of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), Philippine Air Force and Philippine Coast Guard CBRN units, PCG Special Operations Group, and the 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, implemented search warrants at Davao Mighty Steel (DMS) Corporation in Barangay Ilang. Grounds for the raid were that the company was “manufacturing and distributing substandard reinforcing steel bars.”
PAOCC executive director Undersecretary Benjamin Acorda Jr. said the 174 QUOTE UNQUOTE “rescued” Filipino workers were found in an industrial environment containing radioactive materials, dust, fumes, wastes and production residues that posed risks of continued occupational exposure.
However, during the consultation I had yesterday with the workers, in my capacity as Chairperson of the City Council Committee on Labor and Employment Opportunities, their topmost concern was the loss of their jobs. “Nakulban mi ug kaldero, Konsehal ug sa kalisod sa panahon karon, asa na man mi mag-trabaho ani?”. “Asa man ang rescue nga nahitabo kung kami tanan sa Mighty Steel nawad-an man sa among panginabuhian ug wala may suporta?”. These are just some of their sentiments.
More than 300 workers are now at a loss on what to do next, which is why the City Social Welfare & Development Office conducted a profiling of the affected workers who approached our office yesterday morning until afternoon. Of the more than 200 workers interviewed, most of the workers were male, were residents of Davao City, and had an average stay of 3-10 years in the company.
They demand that DMS or Davao Mighty Steel give their pending two weeks’ salary since after the raid, nobody from the management gave an advisory or official statement as to their salaries, the status of their employment and the next steps. Ang pagdangop aning workers sa local government angay natong tagaan og hinanaling pagtagad. Kay ang kahimtang sa atong mga trabahante sa syudad dili lamang ma-alibyohan sa temporaryong ayuda.
Matud pa sa usa ka batan-on nga trabahante nga nainterview sa radyo, human sa raid, “pasmo ilang nasinati og dili rescue”. Walay ekonomikanhong suporta nga gihatag ang national government aron mapaneguro nga dili mapasmo ang ilang mga pamilya.
The local government, especially the City Council Committee on Labor and Employment Opportunities, headed by this representation, will always continue to support workers by upholding their rights and welfare, including the provision of possible employment and support in line with our existing Workers’ Protection and Development Ordinance or WPDO.
This incident has created a ripple across the downstream steel industry. Dili lang pud mga trabahante ang naapektuhan sa pag-raid sa DMS kay hasta mga junk shops ug mamakalay sa Davao namingaw kay halos sa DMS man nila ginabagsak ang ilang mga bakal.
Addressing labor concerns in the informal or contractual emerging sectors is also being prioritized under the WPDO, with the City Government recognizing our contractual workers and those hired through agencies like the employees from Davao Mighty Steel. This requires a multi-faceted approach centered on legal recognition, social protection, skills development, and stronger representation. These aim to extend formal labor protections to our vulnerable workers, which is why a series of consultations and public hearings will be conducted by our committee for the month of August, in aid of legislation, until the matter is resolved. This is in coordination with the CSWDO, DOLE, PESO, and other relevant offices.
Mr. Presiding Officer, allow me to place on record that my office is currently studying the enactment of a Workers’ Emergency Lifeline Ordinance that would enable the City Government of Davao to provide temporary assistance to workers who lose their jobs or livelihoods due to extraordinary events beyond their control. These may include calamities, pandemics, or enforcement actions resulting in the suspension or closure of operations, and other similar emergency situations that would result in denial of employment. The proposed measure seeks to establish a temporary safety net for affected workers and their families during periods of crisis, helping them meet their basic needs while they recover from unforeseen livelihood disruptions.
In the long-term, atong tumong ug tinguha nga makatrabaho balik ang kapin 300 ka workers sa Davao Mighty Steel. Bisan pa man nga sila nakapa-ilalom sa usa ka agency, sila entitled gihapon sa samang protection ilalom sa atong approved city ordinance nga Workers Protection and Development Ordinance. Kini nga mga trabahante naay katungod mupaabot sa ilang mulo without any judgment or discrimination.
Workers must be protected from undue harm arising from such actions, while the facts are established through a fair, impartial, and transparent investigation conducted in accordance with due process.
May this privilege speech be considered as having been read under First Reading, to be referred to the SP Committee on Labor & Employment Opportunities and Committee on Civil, Political and Human Rights. Daghang salamat!
Councilor Pamela Librado
chairperson
Committee on Labor and Employment Opportunities
