Abstract:
The Project CALABARZON is one of the most important development
strategies of the government. According to its proponents, the said project
would be very beneficial, not just to the government and to the capitalists that
would invest in the region, but also to the its residents and the people living in
the surrounding areas and provinces. These people would not only benefit from
the various infrastructure projects that this undertaking would entail but also
to the thousands of jobs that it would create. True enough, a lot of people were
able to land jobs that would support their daily subsistence. However, as shown
and as proven by history, the inherent contradiction between the interests of the
capitalists and the workers proved detrimental to the noble goals of the project.
Seeing that the union of workers is a big stumbling block to their interests, the
capitalists devised ways and tactics to suppress the labor movement in the
CALABARZON. Furthermore, in its quest to attract foreign investors in the
country, the government legislated laws and policies that would give concessions
to prospective investors, at the expense of the labor movement. With the efforts
of the government and the capitalists combined, it is now a question of survival
for the labor unions.
