A policeman was injured when a scuffle erupted between militant groups and the police over the steel barricades placed by the police on Recto Avenue in Manila to prevent the rallyists from entering Mendiola on Labor Day, May 1.

The still unidentified police officer was pierced by the barbed wire wrapped around the barricades when protesters tried to remove them.

The police said the protesters belonging to various labor-centered groups tried to remove the steel barricades near the University of the East (UE) in Recto during their march towards Mendiola.

The protesters urged the national government to certify the proposed P200 wage hike bill as urgent.

House Bill No. 11376 has already been approved by the House of Representatives on second reading. It requires all private sector employers, regardless of size, to provide workers with a P200 daily wage increase.

According to Jerome Adonis of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and senatorial candidate of the Makabayan Coalition, the police violated the workers' right to express their demands for a living wage and job security.

Members of the National Wage Coalition (NWC), which consists of the biggest labor groups in the country including KMU, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), marched along España Boulevard going to Mendiola to stage their protests.

The Manila Police District (MPD) said around 1,500 individuals joined the protests in Manila today.

P200 wage hike, end to 'endo'

Militant groups and labor organizations rallied in Metro Manila on Labor Day and urged the national government to certify the proposed P200 wage hike bill as urgent.

The House of Representatives has already approved on second reading House Bill No. 11376, a measure requiring all private sector employers, regardless of size, to provide workers with a P200 daily wage increase.

Members of the National Wage Coalition (NWC), which consists of the biggest labor groups in the country including Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), Nagkaisa Labor Coalition, and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), marched along España Boulevard going to Mendiola to stage their protests.

However, the police were already deployed along Recto Avenue to stop them from coming near Mendiola.

The Manila Police District (MPD) closed down some roads in Manila to motorists in anticipation of the Labor Day protests by progressive groups and labor organizations.

Authorities said the corner of Figueroa Street going to Mendiola has been closed to traffic as part of the efforts in preventing protesters that will be coming from España Boulevard and Liwasang Bonifacio to come near the area of Mendiola.

Both directions of Recto Avenue were also closed to motorists due to demonstrations by militant groups.

Only Figueroa Street remained open as an alternative route for vehicles coming from Legarda Street going to Lacson Avenue in España.

Akbayan marched together with hundreds of Cheldren, youth volunteers of the party-list and Atty. Chel Diokno, Akbayan’s first nominee.

Diokno joined the Labor Day rally in Batangas City with the Philippine Metalworkers Alliance (PMA) where he underscored the need to match economic ambition with fairness for those who built it from the ground up.

Code White Alert

The Department of Health (DOH) raised a Code White Alert for May 1 to 2 to ensure that hospitals across the country are ready to respond to any medical emergencies during the holiday.

“By order of President Marcos, the DOH is on standby during times like the Labor Day observance for the health of every citizen,” said Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa.

A DOH Code White Alert signals hospitals to activate their Operations Centers (OPCENs) to ensure seamless coordination with regional and central DOH command centers. The alert improves hospital readiness by enabling:

EPD deployment

The Eastern Police District (EPD) has deployed a total of 1,679 of its personnel to guarantee the safety and security of the community during the celebration of Labor Day.

EPD OIC Brig. Gen. Aden Lagradante said the force has also sent 100 EPD officers to augment the Manila Police District and directed them to conduct aggressive information drives on the modus operandi of criminals in their respective areas of responsibilities in order to raise public awareness and prevent the occurrence of crimes. (With Merlina Hernando-Malipot)