THE Order signed by DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma on December 20, 2024, adopts the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by the two parties earlier this month, formalizing the settlement of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) deadlock between PLDT Inc. and the MKP.
The dispute, which escalated to a deadlock despite initial conciliation efforts, was brought under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Labor and Employment. Through a series of conciliation conferences led by the Office of the Secretary and its attached agency, the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), both parties engaged in guided discussions that culminated in a mutually acceptable settlement.
𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭
The MOA signing was witnessed by DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma and other officials at the DOLE Central Office on December 12. Through the agreement, the parties now have a new CBA covering a period of three years.
The agreement includes provisions on employee benefits, amendments to certain CBA provisions, and post-MOA obligations.
“Masaya kami dahil ang inyong talakayan ay nabunga ng kasunduan (We are happy that your discussions resulted in an agreement). There is no substitute for an agreement mutually entered into by the parties,” Secretary Laguesma said in his message.
“Maaaring may mga pagkakataong mayroon kayong mga hindi pagkakaunawaan, subalit napakahalaga na patuloy na mag-usap (There may be times when you experience disagreements, but it is essential to keep communicating). Itong lagdaan ay pormalisasyon lamang na nanggaling sa isang usapan na ang contents ng agreement ay mutually beneficial (This signing is merely the formalization of discussions that produced mutually beneficial agreements),” he added.
Secretary Laguesma also commended the parties’ commitment to maintaining open dialogue to clarify any matters requiring further discussion. He stressed the importance of implementing the agreement properly and effectively.
“Sana lalo nitong mapagtibay, mapatatag, at mabuksan ng lalo pang pagkakataon sa mga manggagawa na maiangat ang kanilang kalagayan (We hope this will further strengthen, solidify, and open more opportunities for workers to improve their conditions). At makatulong din ang mga manggagawa na mapanatili ang magandang operasyon ng kompanya (Likewise, we hope workers will help sustain the smooth operations of the company),” he said.
PLDT Inc., was represented by its senior officials led by Senior Vice-President Gina Marina P. Ordoñez, First Vice President Joseph Michael Vincent G. Co, and members of its legal team, while the MKP was represented by its President, Alexander F. Tirao, members of its negotiating panel, and other union members.
The management emphasized that the dispute settlement process and continued dialogue with the union have enabled them to better understand and address the needs of the around 9,600 employees forming the company. Similarly, the union acknowledged the value of the discussions in fostering mutual understanding between both parties.
Both the management and the union expressed their gratitude to DOLE for facilitating the settlement and reiterated their openness to further collaboration that will benefit not only the employees and their families but also the company’s customers estimated at 57.8 million nationwide.
Also present during the MOA signing were Labor Arbiter Maria Consuelo S. Bacay, Officer-in-charge, Office of the Assistant Secretary, representatives from the NCMB, and the DOLE Legal Service.
The finalization of the agreement highlights DOLE’s pivotal role in fostering industrial peace through conciliation and mediation. This milestone reflects a broader commitment to protecting workers’ rights while ensuring harmonious labor-management relations.
As both parties move forward, the successful implementation of the agreement is expected to contribute to PLDT’s operational stability and the welfare of its workforce, setting an example for other organizations to emulate. AG#
This article has been sourced from the Department of Labor and Employment – DOLE Facebook Page.
