MAR: LABOR-FRIENDLY POLICY UNDER AN AQUINO-ROXAS ADMIN

Liberal Party vice presidential survey favorite Senator Mar Roxas today joined the nation in paying tribute to the country's millions of workers, as he rallied the next administration to ensure a better working environment for Filipino laborers.

"We are united in celebration of this day of remembrance and tribute to the Filipino laborer: The hardships that you willingly go through for your families; the sweat which signifies your hopes of lifting yourselves from poverty; and your contribution to nation building," Roxas said in his Labor Day message.

He likewise shared the workers' dream of a better life for their families and loved ones and promised to push for a worker-friendly labor policy when he and LP standard-bearer Senator Benigno S. Aquino III win the May 10 national elections, a policy that would put all Filipino workers on equal footing with their international counterparts and guarantee job opportunity and security for all.

Roxas, during his stints as secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry, as lawmaker from Capiz and as senator, had looked out for the welfare of Filipino laborers and had successfully pushed for pro-workers legislation, among them the Tax Exemption for Minimum Wage Earners Law, which put the workers' hard-earned money back into their pockets; the Cheaper Medicines Law that eased the burden of medicine prices whenever there is an illness in the family; and various laws and projects that support micro, small, and medium scale enterprises.

"But the fight is not yet over. Our dream is for a nation that recognizes the dignity and worth of the worker. A nation where no laborer will be marginalized by the rich and the powerful. Where your welfare--the welfare of the people--is put front and center," Roxas said.

He said such dream could only be achieved under an Aquino-Roxas administration. "We will prevail by sifting through the lies, and holding on to the truth; by taking the straight path that will bring us bounty, peace, and hope. We have never let each other down, and onwards we will continue to fight as comrades-in-arms. Let us not let this chance pass us by," added.