Press Release
February 1, 2016

Senate honors founder of Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)

The Senate adopted on Monday a resolution expressing its profound sympathy and sincere condolences to the family of Democrito Mendoza, founder of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), who passed away last January 12, 2016.

"His campaign for the causes of a struggling workforce transcended the domestic sphere and extended to the international arena through the establishment of the ASEAN Trade Union Council, which became his platform in advancing the freedom of association workers, and in protecting the right of employees to security of tenure threatened by the rising trend of contractualization," Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, author of Senate Resolution 1719, said.

According to the resolution, Mendoza dedicated his life as the resounding voice of laborers in their continuing fight for equitable employment opportunities, humane conditions of work and living wages, through the TUCP which he founded and headed.

As a pillar of the country's labor movement, Mendoza's notable contributions earned him various distinctions and citations, among which are the "Labor Leader of the Year, Cebu News Correspondence Club (1961); "Labor Leader of the Year", Cebu Press Club (1964), "Labor Leader of the Year", School of Labor and Industrial Relations of the University of the Philippines (1998); "Labor Leader of the Year", President Fidel V. Ramos (1998); "Order of the Golden Heart", President Gloria Arroyo (2002); and the Presidential Merit Award (2005).

"Mendoza's unwavering commitment and legendary courage to promote the interest of our laborers through peaceful modes resulted to increased productivity in the workforce, that ultimately helped oil the wheels of our economy," Drilon added. (Yvonne Almirañez)

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