IT WON’T be a merry Christmas for 100 regular and 300 contractual workers of Apo Cement Corp. since the company has plans to temporarily lay them off, starting on Dec. 13.
It was a painful decision that could not be avoided, according to the company’s spokesman, Chito Maniago.
Before the operations of Apo Land and Quarry Corp., Apo Cement’s partner, were suspended following the landslide in Sitio Sindulan, Barangay Tina-an in the City of Naga last Sept. 20, Apo Cement produced 275,000 bags of cement daily in its plant in the city.
Following the suspension, Apo Cement’s daily production dropped drastically, Maniago said. Although he did not provide any figures, it must have been so bad for the company to resort to laying off workers in its production, warehouse and packing units.
He said the company has also been forced to get its raw materials from different parts of the country and abroad, which entails additional costs.
Johnrel Goles, president of the Apo Cement Corp. Employees’ Union, was hoping the company would change its mind. After all, he and his colleagues were willing to do rotation work at the plant.
But if the company pushes through with its plan, then union members might file a complaint against their employer before the National Labor Relations Commission.
I agree with Goles, the timing is bad. Christmas, New Year and the Sinulog are coming up. But hey, the company only filed a formal notice before the Department of Labor and Employment 7 regarding its decision to lay off some workers, it has not dismissed them yet. You never know, maybe they’ll arrive at a compromise. Maybe the company will agree to their suggestion to rotate workers.
I’m sure the workers are well aware of their employers’ predicament. I mean, they’d know firsthand, right?
On a lighter note, I’d like to commend Senior Insp. Rodgene Fudotan, chief of the Basak Police Station in Mandaue City, for rushing to the aid of a woman in labor.
Fudotan didn’t think twice about ordering PO1 Elmer Gonzales, Josie Tejano, a non-uniformed personnel, and driver Elmor Ceniza to take the woman to the hospital across the Mactan Channel in Lapu-Lapu City.
Fudotan was grateful to the taxi driver for placing the woman’s fate in their hands because that meant the taxi driver trusted them.
Although the woman couldn’t wait to get to the hospital and gave birth inside the patrol car instead, Gonzales, Tejano and Ceniza were all happy they could help.
So am I. Because as I have said before, the police are not only here to protect us from criminal elements, they’re also here to serve.