This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 5, March 6-12, 2005
Philex Mining Corporation was
awarded the Most Environment- and Children-Friendly Company. Its retrenchment of
about 400 workers, however, shows that that its treatment of people under its
employ is far from friendly. To force these retrenched workers out of its
premises, the company even cut the electric supply from their homes and
prevented their children from going to schools within the company compound.
BY NORTHERN DISPATCH BAGUIO CITY — Hundreds of
retrenched workers sought to block an eviction order of Philex Mining
Corporation (PMC) through a temporary restraining order (TRO). The petition for a TRO of
72 hours was filed last February 21 at the regional trial court of La Trinidad,
Benguet under Judge Fernando Cabato (Branch 62). This aims to prevent the PMC
from evicting the retrenched workers from their homes and cutting their
electricity and water supply. According to the workers,
PMC started retrenching its workers in 2000. The latest rounds were in August,
September and October 2003. Among the 400 retrenched workers were a whole
division tasked with environmental concerns. In their petition, the
retrenched workers stated that they filed cases of illegal dismissal against PMC.
The labor arbiter’s decision was unfavorable to them, but the complaint was
appealed and it is currently pending before the National Labor Relations
Commission (NLRC) in Manila. This means that the
decision of the labor arbiter upholding the legality of the dismissal is not
final. The petition further
stressed that PMC’s cutting the residents’ electricity and water supply has
caused grave and irreparable damage to the complainants’ families such as their
children’s education and their businesses. The forced eviction from their homes
would also mean the families’ displacement and disruption of their children’s
studies. Teresita Manzano, one of
those affected by the eviction and a former supervisor of the environment
division of the company, said, “Most of these retrenched workers and staff had
given more than what they have to share to promote the company’s growth and
development, for they had dedicatedly served the PMC for more than 35 to 40
years.” “We are seeking social
justice because we are oppressed and helpless,” Manzano lamented during a
consultation with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). She also criticized the
manner of the commission’s officer, a certain Atty. Bilog, who she said became
angry with them and did not listen to their complaints. James Tulipa, spokesperson
of Kilusang Mayo Uno-Cordillera (KMU, or May First Movement-Cordillera) said,
“The amount of service devoted by the workers of Philex cannot be equaled by any
amount of money.” This was in reaction to the company’s argument that the
retrenched workers were given their separation pay. “The results of these
retrenchments are unbelievable,” Tulipa also said. “The PMC stopped the
retrenched workers’ children from availing of high school and elementary
education in the schools within the company area. Furthermore, the PMC stopped
giving business permits to some of the family members of the retrenched workers.
Recently, the PMC created an eviction team in charge of cutting electric
services to the bunkhouses and cottages of the retrenched workers. The threat of
impending water supply cut-off to these houses is anticipated. It is ironic that
Philex was awarded the Most Environment and Children Friendly Company in the
country.” Bulatlat © 2004 Bulatlat
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Workers Fight Eviction from Philex
Posted by Bulatlat