ON MAY 1 LABOR DAY CELEBRATION
Workers' groups back Leni-Kiko tandem

CUBAO, Quezon City - Various workers groups endorsed presidential aspirant Leni Robredo and her running-mate Kiko Pangilinan at Sunday's Labor Day celebration.

At the celebration in Araneta Coliseum dubbed "A10 Ang Bukas: Mabuhay ang Manggagawa", farmers, jeepney drivers, BPO employees, healthcare workers, and workers from the manufacturing, service, and informal sectors

went on stage and raised the hands of Robredo and Pangilinan.

"Ang ating paninidigan at pagkakaisa ang magbubuklod upang ang ating pangarap ng isang gobyernong tapat ay aangat sa buhay nating lahat," said Nolan Peñas, chairperson of Pambansang Kilusan ng Samahang Magsasaka.

During his speech, Pangilinan asked the crowd to support candidates who have continued to help the people during pandemic's peak, when unemployment and recession were at their highest.

"Noong kasagsagan ng pandemya, sino'ng kandidato para sa pagkapangulo ang tuloy-tuloy na nagtrabaho para huwag huminto ang paggulong ng ating ekonomiya at ng serbisyong publiko? Aling tandem?" Pangilinan said

In unison, workers chanted "Leni-Kiko".

If elected as vice-president, Pangilinan vows to end "endo", or contractualization, and push for social benefits, cash assistance, and improvement of lives and livelihood of all workers, including farmers and fisherfolk.

"Isa sa mga uunahin natin ay tapusin na ang endo," Pangilinan said.

"At dahil ako naman ay nakatutok sa usapin ng sikmura ng bayan, titiyakin natin Hello Pagkain at Goodbye Gutom lahat, lalo na ang gumagawa ng yaman ng bansa, lalo na ang mga nagpapakain sa atin," he added.

Robredo laid out a detailed agenda for workers, including overseas Filipino workers.

Earlier, the tandem vowed to boost jobs in the Green Economy (agriculture), Gold Economy (IT and electronics), and Blue Economy (fishing, seafaring and marine transport).

"Ngayong Araw ng Paggawa, nais kong ipahayag ang aking pakikiisa sa mga gumagawa ng yaman ng bansa. Ngayong Araw ng Paggawa, nais kong sumaludo sa mga tunay na yaman ng bansa," said Pangilinan.