THE Association of Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) is now asking the local Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-10), Cagayan de Oro City Health Office and the Regional Health Office to check on whether Oroport Cargohandling Services, Inc (Oroport) at Macabalan Pier this city is complying with the health standards set by law.

August 5, 2008

ALU-TUCP also accused Oroport of discriminating members of their affiliate union, Phase II Port Union (PPWU-ALU-TUCP) as workers who are affiliated with the other union were allowed to go back to work after a few days while PPWU-ALU-TUCP are workers made to go on leave for months.

The PPWU-ALU-TUCP is set to stage a protest rally at Divisoria tomorrow to “bring to public attention” the labor violations of Oroport and how the same company violated the peace pact brokered by City Councilor Edgar Cabanlas that was signed by all concerned parties.

ALU-TUCP- Northern Mindanao Region regional vice president Nicandro Borja said the three agencies should “investigate further the health implications” of the confirmed presence of 26 Oroport workers found to have “findings” or “spots” during their annual chest X-rays conducted last October 14-17, 2005 by Cedar Clinical Laboratory in Pinikitan this city.

“We are concerned about the health not only of our affiliated workers, but other people working and passing through the port as well,” he said in his letter to Ligutom.

For his part, Ligutom told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that he is still in Singapore and would be arriving this Monday to check on all the complaints forwarded by ALU-TUCP.

But Oroport management spokesperson Noel Tan said their company has been complying with all the health standards mandated by law including the dockworkers’ health and safety standards.

He said they have their annual physical examination at this Cedar Clinical Laboratory and that all X-Ray with “positive results are automatically referred for second expert opinion just to be sure.”

“Some of the results are found to be negative after review,” he said.

Tan said they have allotted a minimum of P50,000 per employee to cover for any hospitalization, accident and any other illness “sometimes even including any other sickness already not related to their work at our company.”

He said aside from having Dr. Dante Roble as their resident doctor, they also have four nurses who can cater to the health needs of their workers and even their dependents in a 24-hour basis.

Also, he said they have a tie-up with Cagayan Capitol College Hospital that allows any Oroport worker can immediately go to the same with the company footing the bill.

“And they are allowed to go on medical leave with pay and we even supply them with free medicines,” he said. “We are the only company that provides its workers with so much health benefits.”

But Borja accused Oroport of discrimination saying those who are members of the MLU-FFW are given more advantage by the company’s human resource department than that of their PPWU-ALU-TUCP members.

“Oroport HRD only allowed 10 days sick leave for six affected workers belong to the MLU-FFW before issuing them a fit-to-work clearance, compared to the remaining 20 workers affiliated with ALU-TUCP who were given three-to-six months sick leave to undergo treatment and rest/rehabilitation before being allowed to go back to work,” he said.

“We fear the six MLU-FFW members who were allowed back to work after only 10 days treatment might pose a health risk to our affiliated workers as well as other people working and passing through the Cagayan de Oro Port,” he added.

Borja said they also fear that the Oroport medical team has been remiss for allowing 26 potential cases of pulmonary disease to occur within its jurisdiction.

“We believe health standards in LGUs would already consider the number of incidents of pulmonary disease vis a vis the total number of workers in Oroport’s work force a virtual epidemic,” he said.

But Tan for their part said if ALU-TUCP is referring to tuberculosis (TB) or any pulmonary sickness, then this is not entirely the fault of Oroport.

“Sometimes it depends on how they take care of themselves. TB has not yet been eradicated in the Philippines. What we can do is have them checked, put them on medical leave and cure them as part of the company’s health care program per dockworkers’ health standards,” he said.

“Health is everybody’s responsibility not just company but also the individual…even the union’s responsibility,” he also added.

Borja is nevertheless asking the three line-agencies to look into this health concern.

“Your soonest action on this request would be sincerely appreciated by the undersigned since it is the general public’s health, and not only those of Oroport’s workers, which appears to be at risk in this situation,” he said.

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By Lizanilla J. Amarga

Of Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro

LOCAL political kingpin Cagayan de Oro city mayor Vicente Emano denied allegations that he is eyeing more big-time businessmen to be part of his party ticket as city councilor bets for the upcoming 2007 Elections.

The mayor has earlier announced that he is looking into having Oroport Cargohandling Services, Inc. chairman Franklin “Bobo” Siao, Parasat Cable owner Elpie Paras and Ultracraft owner Jun Suan to ran as among his candidates for city councilors.

But there were reports received by several media practitioners yesterday that Emano is also eyeing local businessmen Willy Chu, Dodong Uy, Henry Tan, Stephen Gaisano, Lorenzo Limketkai and Albino Limketkai, George Gordiel and Willy Limbonhai to be among his city councilors bet this coming elections. These traders are known to be close friends of Emano.

Chu is reportedly the owner of King Williams, Troy Karaoke and some other small motels, Uy is owner and operator of UKC Builders, Inc. that swoop down almost all the major contracts the city government could offer under Emano’s administration while Tan is a local textile businessmen owning Modtrade, Inc.

Gaisano runs and operates the Gaisano City and Mall while the Limketkais are the owners of the sprawling Limketkai Mall and business center. Gordiel reportedly served as one of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s local political lieutenants while Limbonhai is into several businesses including hotel, rice and corn, real estate and a local school.

But in an interview over dxIF Bombo Radyo yesterday, Emano said, “Pilde nako ana. Luoy na kaayo ko ana (I would lose if that is the case. I would be in a pitiful state.).”

The mayor said he could not fathom where such reports could have come from but that he would like to assure his supporters that he is picking only those people who have the heart to truly serving the people and not dip their hands on the city’s coffers.

He said he could not believe that Chu, Gordiel and Limbonhai would be pursuing any political careers.

“Ambot asa na nakuha nga si Willy Chu modagan…sila pud Gerry Gordiel, Limbonhai modagan (I don’t know where such reports that Willy Chu would ran,,.and also Gerry Gordiel and Limbonhai)” he said.

Emano said Uy, Tan and the Limketkais, although are ‘good men’ are not likely to waste their time and millions in seeking any public position.

“Kana si Dodong Uy kung ingnon kana siya nga padaganon ug pagkakonsehal moingon kana nga maypa mo-ambak sa tulay (Dodong Uy would probably say he would rather jump off a bridge),” he said. “Kini si Henry Tan moingon siguro nga mopauli nalang ko sa Jolo. “Lorenzo ug Albino Ketkai mga tarong kini motabang lang hinoon sa katawhan sa dakbayan (Henry Tan would probably say that he might as well go back to Jolo. Lorenzo and Albino Ketkai are good people but they would just like to just help the people of the city without any political motivation).”

Emano said he already has his list of whom he would be asking to run for city councilor and that it does not matter whether they are rich or poor as long as they have the desire to serve the people.

“Ma-abin nako nga mga tao bisan kabus basta naay gusto nga mo-alagad sa katawhan pero kini sila wala man gyud kini sila nga maghisgot sa politika,” he said.

Emano said he would have wanted Tan to run for city councilor but the latter has no such political ambition and, thus, so far he is sticking it out for Suan, Paras and Siao.

“Gapaniguro lang ako kay kining hinapos ko nga termino nga naa napud mga halas nga motalikod nako sama sa niaging mga panahon nabutang ko sa alang alang nga posisyon kadtong gipapriso ako pagkagobernador pati mga higala nga mga mayor gibiyaan ako…history will repeat itself (I am just making sure of things as this is the end of my term and there are traitors around who would turn their backs on me such as what happened when I was placed in a tight situation when I was to be locked in prison when I was still a governor even those mayors who were close to me left me…history will repeat itself),” he said. by Lizanilla J. Amarga

(2006)

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