The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday that the Labor Day public activities staged by some labor, transport and cause-oriented groups culminated peacefully and orderly.

“So far, sa ating pagmomonitor simula pa lang kaninang umaga ay relatively peaceful at maayos naman yung mga isinagawang rally at public assembly nung mga kababayan natin na nais magpahayag ng kanilang damdamin lalong lalo na yung pagtawag nila ng pansin sa ating gobyerno (So far, from our monitoring since this morning, the rallies and public assemblies held by our countrymen who want to express their feelings are relatively peaceful and are going well, especially when they call the attention of our government),” PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo told reporters in a press briefing in Camp Crame on Monday afternoon.

Fajardo said some public assemblies have peacefully dispersed in the areas of Region 4A (Calabarzon) while in Manila there was a march at rallying point in Mendiola, as they have not recorded any untoward incident while the traffic management is smooth with their cooperation.

“Simula kaninang pagmomonitor natin ang pinakamalaki natin namonitor mga around 11 a.m. to 12 noon may mga namonitor tayo nung nag converge na sila dito sa Mendiola, mga around 1,500 to 2,000 at maayos naman sila nagsagawa ng kanilang activities at early on naman ay we also have to give credit to them particularly doon sa kanilang mga leader na nakipag ugnayan sa atin (Since we started monitoring earlier, the biggest we monitored was around 11 a.m. to 12 noon then we monitored some people when they converged in Mendiola, around 1,500 to 2,000 and they carried out their activities well and early on we also have to give credit to them particularly there to their leaders who cooperated with us),” said Fajardo

She assured that the police would exercise maximum tolerance paramount consideration is respect for human rights and freedom of expression and speech.

“Malinaw yung paalala ng ating Chief PNP Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. sa ating mga field commanders na maging mahinahon at malamig ang ulo, yung ating ipinatutupad na maximum tolerance ay yun pa rin ang policy na ating ipinatutupad sa ngayon (Our Chief PNP Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. warning is clear to our field commanders to be calm and cool-headed, the maximum tolerance that we are implementing is still the policy that we are implementing right now),” she said.

She also said there is no need to raise the alert level for the PNP since police commanders on the ground were given the authority to raise their respective alert levels depending on the situation in their respective areas of responsibility.

A total of 59,587 policemen were deployed across the country to ensure public safety and peace celebration of May 1 Labor Day, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr, said.

Acorda said the deployment of police personnel will be enough to ensure order and security in all places of engagement.

He reminded all police officers to strictly observe the policy of maximum tolerance, respect for human rights and adherence to Police Operational Procedures.

“The PNP will assist in all lawful and peaceful activities in commemoration of Labor Day,” Acorda said in a statement on Sunday.

He added the PNP has coordinated with other government agencies, to ensure that the celebration will be carried out peacefully.

The Labor Day celebrations are usually marked with mass actions and protests conducted by labor organizations and progressive groups.

Simultaneous Labor Day Job Fairs held in Marikina

Meanwhile, seeking to give long-term solution by providing job opportunities to Marikina City residents, the Office of Marikina 1st District Representative Marjorie Ann “Maan” Teodoro conducted simultaneous job fairs at the Marikina City Hall and SM City Marikina during the celebration of Labor Day (May 1).

“Tayo po sa Marikina, gusto po natin hindi lang ang panandaliang ayuda, gusto natin ay pangmatagalang tulong, at itong mga trabahong ibibigay po natin at makukuha po ng ating mga kababayan ay napakalaking bagay para sa kanilang pamilya (We in Marikina, we want not just short-term aid, we want long-term help, and these jobs that we will give and get for our countrymen will be a great thing for their families),” Teodoro said in her speech at the job fair in SM Marikina.

According to the congresswoman, a total of 15 companies took part at the job fair conducted at the quadrangle of the Marikina City Hall while 35 companies joined the job fair held at SM City Marikina.

“We started in Marikina City Hall quadrangle. There were a total of 120 applicants there. Akala ko ho ang dami na nun, but when I came to SM Marikina, doubled to 300 job applicants,” she enthused. “We have a total of 35 companies here at SM Marikina and sa Marikina City Hall quadrangle naman, sa loob ng ating city hall, mayroong 15 companies (inside the Marikina City Hall, there are 15 companies), which are all high caliber din naman.”

Teodoro explained that they conducted simultaneous job fairs as some jobseekers prefer the location of the city hall, which is nearer and more accessible to them.

“So we’re doing simultaneous kasi alam naming may mga jobseekers na minsan ayaw nang lumabas doon sa vicinity ng kabayanan ng Marikina kaya ang dami pong naroon ngayon — ‘yung mga malalayo, Fortune, Nangka, Concepcion Dos, minsan kasi mas malapit sa kanila ang City Hall (because we know that there are jobseekers who sometimes don’t want to go out there in the vicinity of Marikina town, the ones from far away, Fortune, Nangka, Concepcion Dos, go to the City Hall because it is closer to them),” she explained.

A free shuttle service going to Marikina City Hall from SM Marikina and vice versa was also provided to jobseekers, the congresswoman said.

For her part, Department of Labor and Employment Undersecretary Carmela Torres lauded the lady solon for conducting simultaneous job fairs in Marikina City.

“Congresswoman [Maan], we commend you for this undertaking. We are here from the Department of Labor and Employment to assist you and to give you kung ano man ang data na kailangan ninyo (whatever data you need),” she said in her speech.

In behalf of her husband, Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro, the lawmaker thanked all the companies that participated in the simultaneous job fairs of Marikina City.

“In behalf of our Mayor Marcy Teodoro, we thank all of the companies and agencies who have joined us today. You have helped us fulfill the dreams of our jobseekers,” she said.

Around 11 a.m., at least 36 jobseekers were hired on the spot by companies joining the job fair at SM Marikina.

Some of the companies that took part in the simultaneous job fairs were Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firms, banks, transportation companies, food chains, supermarket chains, telecommunications companies, shoe manufacturers, and there were also some government agencies and schools. (PNA)