DOLE BATANGAS HOLDS PLANT-LEVEL ORIENTATION ON FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND LABOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEEDINGS IN LIPA CITY

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The DOLE IV-A, through its Batangas Provincial Office, in collaboration with the National Labor Relations Commission Regional Arbitration Branch IV, Regional Conciliation and Mediation Board (RCMB) IV-A, Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity (RTWPB) IV-A, and the DOLE Regional Office IV-A Mediation-Arbitration and Legal Service Unit (MALSU), successfully spearheaded a Plant-Level Orientation on the Freedom of Association (FOA) and Labor Dispute Resolution Proceedings at the Star Tollway Corporation, Tambo, Lipa City, Batangas on September 29, 2026.

A total of 50 union members and officers, and several management representatives attended the learning sessions, which kicked off with a discussion led by NLRC RAB IV Executive Labor Arbiter Atty. Melchisedek A. Guan.

*Atty. Guan shared about the jurisdiction of the Labor Arbiters and unfair labor practices. (Photo by A. Magpantay)*

He empowered the participants on salient concepts on the jurisdiction of the Labor Arbiters as well as legal matters related to Unfair Labor Practices (ULP) and surrounding the conduct of strikes.

Consequently, Mr. Louise Rafael San Andres of the RCMB IV-A talked about the concept of effective grievance machinery in the workplace, while Mr. Gener Rivera of RTWPB IV-A discussed an engaging learning session on productivity and wage distortion.

Meanwhile, through a video presentation, the DOLE IV-A Mediation and Legal Service Unit presented the concept of management prerogative and the rights and obligations of workers in the Philippines.

A few of the participants shared their positive feedback after the conduct of the orientation. According to them, the learning sessions helped them grasp key concepts on labor practices concerning unionism in the workplace.

“Unang una nagpapasalamat kami sa DOLE sa pagbisita nila at sa pagbibigay nila ng mga impormasyon. Malaki ang maitutulong nito sa aming mga mahihirap. Salamat sa DOLE, salamat sa mga nagsalita, sa mga namuno, at nag-organisa ng programang ito,” Mr. Ronaldo Pasia shared.

Meanwhile, Ms. Laarni Hiyad also expressed his appreciation to DOLE’s initiative in driving information dissemination to employees at the plant level.

*Ms. Hiyad raised a clarification about the renewal of the collective bargaining agreement. (Photo by A. Magpantay)*

“Malaking tulong po talaga kaya maraming salamat po sa lahat ng speakers, lalo na sa DOLE na nag-initiate ng program na ito. Malaking tulong po iyon sa amin para ma-open ang aming isip katulad ng mga problemang na-e-encounter namin sa company at employees. Ito pong mga kasamahan ko na miyembro, hindi naman talaga sila uma-attend sa mga ganitong seminars, so sila, na-o-open po yung kanilang isip na ah ganito pala yon, at talagang malaking tulong po talaga yung pag-initiate ng DOLE na magkaroon ng seminar dito po sa aming planta,” Ms. Laarni Hiyad shared.

*Participants actively joined the FOA orientation at Star Tollway Corporation. (Photo by A. Magpantay)*

This orientation supports the ongoing mandate under DOLE Secretary Francis N. Tolentino to safeguard the constitutional right of workers to form peaceful associations free from arbitrary interference.#