Several labor groups have expressed their support for Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Dr. Willie Ong in the upcoming 2022 national elections.
In a statement on Monday, Oct. 4, the Philippine Trade and General Workers Organization (PTGWO) said it believed that Domagoso was the only candidate who had what it takes to reopen the economy and ease the plight of hungry workers.
"Only Mayor Isko is capable of delivering on this daunting task of job re-generation," the group stated.
The PTGWO stressed that the implementation of the strictest quarantine protocols and lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in the highest unemployment rate in recent history.
The group also cited Domagoso's exceptional leadership as the mayor of the nation's capital during the pandemic.
"Manila's pandemic response has been exceptional. Its rate of vaccination is one of the highest among local government units. It was able to build a COVID hospital in record time," it said.
"Families timely received their ayuda (assistance). And all of these while Yorme Isko delivered on his promise of mass housing, among other big-ticket projects," PTGWO added.
Other groups that have also thrown their support for the Aksyon Demokratiko tandem are the National Association of Trade Union, All Filipino Workers Confederation, the Association of Minimum Wage Earners and Advocates and the 1-Pangarap Pilipinas.
A multi-sectoral group called Isulong Serbisyo sa Katawhan nga Organisado had also earlier launched the President Isko Movement (PRIMO) to expressed support to Domagoso.
As of June 2021, the country's unemployment rate was at 7.7 percent, the same figure as in May, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Meanwhile, the country's unemployment rate in April which was at 8.7 percent, February at 8.8 percent, and January at 8.7 percent of the same year are quite high.
In March 2021, the unemployment rate was at 7.1 percent, PSA added.
In terms of magnitude, 3.76 million Filipinos aged 15 years and above were unemployed in June, compared to the 3.73 million in May.
The PTGWO is one of the biggest federation of labor unions in the country with over a hundred thousand member-workers.