Brian Poe (leftmost, seated) first nominee of FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list

FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list, led by its first nominee Brian Poe, has gained the endorsement of Confederation of Filipino Workers (CFW) less than two weeks away before the conduct of the mid-term polls.

The two groups held a roundtable discussion on Thursday, May 1, Labor Day, which was concluded with the signing of a commitment of support. Leading the side of CFW was its president, Gabriel Aranzamendez.

The signed document outlines several key policy advocacies that the group aims to prioritize with the endorsement of the party-list.

These proposals include the Magna Carta for Private Sector Workers, the National Workplace Health and Safety Act, the National Unemployment Insurance Program (NUIP), the OFW Protection and Reintegration Act, the Labor Rights Education Act, and the Freelancers' Rights and Protection Act, along with the strengthening of the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (TIPC).

The CFW is a national organization established in 1987 and claims to be one of the largest and most influential labor organizations in the Philippines. It has over 50,000 members across various sectors.

Poe expressed his gratitude for the inputs given during the discussion. "Ang nagustuhan ko, bago tayo nagkita, nagpadala po kayo ng mga batas na gusto 'nyo i-push sa Kongreso kung sana pwede i-file, napakaganda."

(What I appreciate is that before we met, you sent over the laws you wanted to push in Congress that could potentially be filed. They're excellent.)

"In fact, para sa akin, itong partnership natin, mas mahalaga para sa akin ang advocacy at yung advice na ibibigay 'nyo sa akin. Tatlo yung pillar ng FPJ: Food, Progress, at Justice. Yung progress sa ilalim 'non, ekonomiya, so yun yung trabaho natin. Tapos, justice, itong dalawang bagay na 'to, napakahalaga para sa labor sector natin," he continued, as he emphasized the importance of these pillars in creating a balanced society that supports all Filipinos.

(In fact, for me, this partnership is more important because of your advocacy and the advice you will give me. FPJ's three pillars are: Food, Progress, and Justice. Progress is conencted to the economy, which is our responsibility. Then, justice—these two aspects are very crucial for our labor sector.)

"Kung titignan 'nyo po yung platform namin, sakop din don, of course, yung mga labor groups, pero specifically yung mga informal sector kasi alam kong marami tayo sa labor sector na kasama sa informal o part-time gigs. Kasi, syempre, hindi sapat yung kita natin sa isang trabaho, kailangan natin mag-sideline ng konti," Poe further said.

(If you look at our platform, it also includes, of course, labor groups, but specifically the informal sector because I know many of us in the labor sector belong to the informal or part-time gigs. Because, naturally, one job's income isn't enough—we need to take on side jobs.)

But Poe said even part-timers and freelancers have rights that must be observed, especially given their contributions.

"Kasi kung tutuusin, malaking parte sila ng ekonomiya natin, kaya kailangan natin protektahan (Because, ultimately, they're a significant part of our economy, and we need to protect them)," he said, as he stressed the significance of advocating for the rights of these often-overlooked workers.

The mid-term elections will take place on May 12.

Poe and the FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list are committed to championing labor initiatives that create a secure and supportive environment for all Filipino workers. Recognizing the challenges faced by workers across various sectors, the party-list aims to advocate for comprehensive legislation that addresses their needs and rights.

Key members who attended the dialogue aside from Aranzamendez were Angelina de Ocampo, vice president of CFW; Anton Palmiano from the San Jose Workers Union; Engelbert Lasang from Monde Nissin; Robert Garcia of the CFW Influencers Association; and Julius Dalumpines from CFW for Transportation.