Let Change Work for Filipino Workers
(Opening Remarks by Senator Joel Villanueva)

Labor committee hearing - November 25, 2019

A pleasant day to all of you. And advance happy 86th Anniversary to the DOLE family.

There are several bills in our agenda today. The subject of these proposals ranges from freelancers to kasambahays, to incentives to golf caddies, to alternative and voluntary work arrangements, to training for older workers, among others.

As I make initial assessments and preparations for this hearing, and maybe, as a result of my having been part of the legislative branch of the government for already a considerable length of time, isang makulit at demanding na katanungan po ang sumagi sa isip ko: Bakit nga kaya sa kabila ng marami na nating mga batas, tila kulang na kulang pa rin, lalo na kung isyu ng mga manggagawa ang pag-uusapan?

Halimbawa, may batas na tayo para sa mga kasambahay pero may bagong panukalang nagtatakda ng isang special non-working holiday para sa mga household service workers. Kailan lang ay naipasa natin ang batas para sa telecommuting pero tuloy pa rin ang panawagan para sa alternative at voluntary work arrangements.

Laws and legislations on labor and social concerns are already consolidated and compiled in the Labor Code, pero ngayon, may panukala para sa shared contribution scheme para sa mga golf caddies and other service workers, gayundin para sa training para sa mga mature at older workers.

Please don't get me wrong. I do not mean to trivialize the concerns on our table today. On the contrary, I am convinced that the sheer volume and variety of our concerns evidence our unwavering commitment to find ways to help the Filipino laborers in this era of unprecedented change acceleration. And this is what ought to be, kasi wala rin pong humpay ang mga problema ar pagbabago sa ating lipunan; at alam na po nating lahat na ang kapakanan ng mga manggagawa ay pundasyon at haligi na kung saan nasasalig ang buhay, kabuhayan, pagsulong, at kaunlaran ng ating lipunan at bayan.

At alam kong hindi lang po tayo ang nag-iisip nito. I got a letter from a senior high school student from Angeles City in Pampanga and she's calling for immediate action for the injustices committed on our workers due to poor working conditions, maltreatment and other abuses. Kahit mga bata, nakikita ang mga kakulangan, maging sa batas man o sa pagpapatupad ng ating mga batas.

Indeed, we are here today to respond and to adapt to our surroundings especially as our industries look to accelerate the adoption of robotics, artificial intelligence, internet-of-things, and big data in the context of Industry 4.0.

Sa bilis po ng pagbabago sa kasalukuyang panahon, wala po tayong oras para magpatumpik-tumpik. Subalit kailangan po nating himayin, pag-usapan at kung maaari ay gawan pa ng masusing pag-aaral ang mga panukalang nakahain ngayon sa ating komite. Ang importante ay makatugon tayo sa patuloy na nagbabagong pangangailangan, interes, at kapakanan ng manggagawang Pilipino.

Change is upon us. Let us catch up with change. Let us make change work for the Filipino workers.

May God help us accomplish the labor He bid us work on today for His greater glory and the welfare of His working Filipino people. Thank you very much and God bless us all.