Palace to CBCP: Workers are protected

Malacañang assured the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Monday that the Arroyo administration is serious in safeguarding and protecting the Filipino workers. Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye issued the statement in response to the call of CBCP president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo for the government to take care of the country's workers. Bunye said the President has launched the Strong Family Program (SFP) where the head of the family will be given ample livelihood and employment opportunities. Last week, the President launched the SFP as one of the important structural foundations of the vision of a strong republic. Under the program, the head of the family will be given a chance to look for and get assistance from the government to find a better job to support the financial needs of his family, health care assistance, and quality but affordable education in the global digital society. SFP is a joint program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and other agencies of government. "We are pleased to note that industrial peace continues to reign as the spirit of tripartism and voluntary arbitration keeps the number of strikes to a record low," Bunye said. –GMANews.TV