The Trabaho party-list group is visiting public markets around the country to listen to problems affecting vendors.

CANTIVEROS mingling with vendors during a Trabaho party-list campaign sortie. (FB)

Among those visited by the party-list group was the Mutya ng Pasig Mega Market in Pasig City.

Led by celebrity mom Melai Cantiveros-Francisco and nominees lawyer Johanne Bautista and Ninai Chavez, Trabaho party-list learned that sales of meat vendors are declining due to high prices.

“Mataas po ang presyo ng mga paninda ngayon (The prices of commodities are currently high). Hindi na po kaya minsan ng mga mamimili natin (Consumers can no longer afford them),” Warren told Trabaho party-list.

As a result, Warren said, consumers are forced to buy imported and frozen meat as they are cheaper.

John described these frozen meat vendors as competitors. “Kalaban po namin 'yun (Frozen meat sellers are competitors),” John said.

Bautista vowed to provide long-term solutions to problems affecting market prices and reform labor laws to give more benefits to employees and laborers, especially low-income earners.

“Yes. Kailangan talaga ng patas na oportunidad, hindi sila napag- iiwanan (It is important to have equal access to opportunities so that low-income earners will not be left behind). Lalo na po kayo kasi kino-consider po namin kayong mga heroes lalo na nung pandemya (Especially workers like you who we regard as our heroes during the pandemic). Kayo ang rason kung bakit busog ang mga pamilyang Pilipino (You are the reason why Filipino families are well-fed),” Chavez said.

Trabaho thanked Cantiveros for effectively advocating between the group and the marginalized stakeholders they are representing.

“Siya (Melai) ay may puso ng mapagmahal na ina at ng Pilipinong may tunay na malasakit para sa kapwa manggagawa (She has the heart of a loving mother and of a Filipina who deeply cares for her fellow Filipinos),” Trabaho said.