by Engr. Wesley D.
Tan
ISABELA CITY, Basilan, June 1 (PIA) – The
Jog/Walk for Industrial Peace in Basilan drew strong public and private support
in a collective effort to maintain peace in the workplace and strengthening
labor-management relations.
The Provincial Government of Basilan in
partnership with the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council of Isabela City and
Joint Task Force Basilan spearheaded the 3-kilometer jog/walk for Industrial
Peace last May 13 at the Plaza Rizal, this city.
The multi-sectoral movement was participated
in by almost 500 joggers from the private sector (management and workers),
government, non-government organizations and rural workers association in this
celebration of the 2012 Labor Month.
This Industrial Peace initiative will
continuously serve as a vehicle wherein the community, specifically workers and
management come together in a creative and friendly environment, enhancing harmonious
relationship. With this wellness get-together, the traditional thinking,
misconception and stigma of violence in the province will hopefully diminish
soon.
Capping this convergence was the recognition
for commendable and exemplary performance award given to twenty-two outstanding
employees. The recipients were rank and file workers from the private sector
whose work ranges from security guards, drivers, truck men, sales ladies,
bakers, and safety and labor union officers. Their services and significant
contributions propel and influence positively to co-workers thus, resulting in
the increase of the productivity and competitiveness level of the
establishments.
Some officials and employees of the
Provincial Governor’s Office cheerfully jogged around the city proper and
enjoining more stakeholders to make the event as a regular activity and
highlight the importance of public-private partnership to prove to the people
that indeed harmony exists in this province. Not even the rain showers
prevented the participants from enjoying and partaking the peace offering of arroz caldo, coffee, egg, bread, and
water after the jog.
“Our men are reaching out and introducing the
culture of peace as an integral part of the Bayanihan efforts…to win the peace
and the hearts of Basileños,” said Col. Ricardo R. Visaya, Commander of the
Joint Task Force Basilan, whose men actively joined and take pride in
pioneering an equally laudable peace run held every last Saturday of the month.
At the forefront is the Tripartite Industrial
Peace Council of Isabela City whose active membership includes workers, management
and government sectors that contributed in raising a total of 106 packages of
goodies which were raffled as part of the most awaited pakulo of the event.
The gift packs include basic commodities such
as sugar, sardines, noodles, soap, toothpaste, vinegar, baby powder, soy sauce,
and rice. Token and surprises for “early bird”, first to cross the finish line,
youngest and oldest jogger, lively and largest contingent were likewise
presented, along with cash awards from the TIPC Chairperson Mayor Cherrylyn
Santos-Akbar.