Yomanila.com | CWS Party List – The Voice of the Construction Industry in Congress | Advocacy for the hardworking Filipinos in the construction industry that is created for our future and yours | A discussion about politics is a serious topic, but MySpace Show and its host, Mys V. Sandico made the dialogue a more insightful yet more entertaining way of informing its audiences on the end of their show’s second season. It’s about the advocacy of an organization that has been around for decades with its aim to give voice to the welfare of those who are working in construction.
Dusty, dangerous, dirty, tiring, low salary, and has zero benefits. That’s how the majority describe their work in the construction sites. That is why an organization like Construction Workers Solidarity Party List was formed years ago. Some concerned citizens and leaders have seen the suffering of our kababayans, because their aim is to be the voice of these blue-collared job citizens, improve their status and welfare in our society as well as give them comforts of life that they were deprived of.
The show invited the organization’s spokesperson and legal counsel, Atty. DJ Jimenez a.k.a The Pinoy Street Lawyer. Jimenez has been very active in the organization due to his passion to extend his hands to those who are experiencing poverty. A former mathematics teacher and now a renowned lawyer and leader has experienced a handful of challenges liked doing odd jobs to finance his education in law school before earning his position in society.
The host made the discussion very light by initially asking about his personal life and his humble beginnings as an exceptional lawyer and how he found himself having the passion and fulfillment in law and public service. He also pointed out that it is important to have self-love and care as our children will outgrow some of the activities that you both used to enjoy when they were younger, discovering your other passions and hobbies would help you discover the things that you will also enjoy, especially during this time of pandemic which brought the best and the worst in us.
As their exchange of dialogue continues, it transitioned to the topic of the party list in the Philippines where he is currently offering his services free of charge. CWS or Construction Workers Solidarity Party List is a labor organization that was founded 30 years ago consisting of construction workers that later evolved where they decided to go into mainstream politics and became a party list. Due to its leaders’ dedication, they were given a spot in the congress in the previous years that was led by Congressman Momo. CWS does not only fight for the interest of those who work in the construction but also includes their allied workers and commercial builders by putting a balance on the interest of the parties involved.
The 30-year infrastructure plan’s impact on businesses is among the party list’s bunch of current concerns. CWS is hoping to have the continuance of the build build build program by the Duterte Administration regardless of who is taking over the seat in Malacanang in the 2022 national elections. Jimenez gave emphasis on the downside of the Philippine government where the majority of the projects started by the previous administration were usually no longer pushed through as the new set of leaders has their own list of projects that wanted to work on. By continuously pushing on the build build build project, that only will provide a steady income for the construction workers and their families but as well as the development of our economy.
CWS has already proposed several bills in congress but due to the still ongoing pandemic, difficulty in implementing these laws is observed. The partylist also pushes for the public-private partnership for a construction academy to uplift the Filipino construction workers, instead of giving the local projects to foreign workers. Aside from those mentioned concerns, a local registration for the workers should also be applied, this is to ensure that during unfortunate events like the covid pandemic, construction workers can also benefit from the programs of the local government where they are currently assigned.
The proposed programs by the organization will take a long battle for its leaders to implement the necessary regulations, but Jimenez assures its members that they will be well represented in the congress and they will be heard.
