Groups set for Labor Day rally

Local

VARIOUS groups will mark Labor Day with a “May Day” protest on Friday, May 1.

Members of the Workers for People’s Liberation (WPL) Cebu, sectoral organizations under Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (Kilusan), and allied groups will march starting t8:30 a.m. from GMC Plaza near Plaza Independencia and proceed to Gaisano South, where organizers will conduct a short program to present their calls for workers’ rights and social justice.

Organizers said they are raising urgent economic concerns, pointing to inflation that reached 4.1 percent in March 2026 while wages remained at minimum levels.

Earlier this month, the Philippine Statistics Authority said the country's inflation rose to 4.1 percent in March from 2.4 percent in February, driven by oil price shocks tied to the Middle East conflict and a sharp depreciation of the local currency.

It marked the highest rate in nearly two years, last seen in July 2024 when the consumer price index reached 4.4 percent.

Additonally, WPL Cebu said workers continue to face reduced working hours, forced leave arrangements, and job insecurity.

Vendors reportedly earn less due to weak consumer demand, while farmers and fisherfolk struggle with rising fuel and production costs.

Transport workers raised similar concerns, with jeepney drivers reportedly working 14 to 18 hours daily and earning between P200 and P300.

Organizers said some drivers also lost access to government subsidies, further reducing their income.

Labor groups said many workers cope with worsening conditions by skipping meals, walking long distances to save transportation costs, and waiting in long queues for basic goods.

WPL Cebu and allied groups also linked domestic economic hardship to global conflicts, saying wars in the Middle East contribute to inflation and instability.

They called on the Philippine government to condemn what they described as U.S.-backed military actions in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran, and to reject participation in foreign military alignments.

The groups also criticized corruption in government, saying public funds continue to be misused while citizens struggle with basic needs.(MyTVCebu)