Protesters gathered at the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Central Office in Intramuros, Manila on Monday, September 21.

The protesters are calling for living wages or salaries that can fully sustain workers and their dependents, proper regularization processes, and to halt Pax Silica plans, among other things, according to a report by RH 9 Tina Nolasco.

Among the protesters were children. They bore placards with the words, “AFP-PNP berdugo, tuta ng kano,” “Shut the Pax down, sister,” and “Sahod, bonggahan, ₱1,200 push na yan.”

Children should be taught the cause their elders are fighting for, explained Gabriel Alon, who introduced himself as the grandfather of some children at the protest and the leader of the Pagkakaisa ng mga Mamamayan ng Tondo (PAMATO).

“Obligasyon ng mga bata na malaman nila ang mga laban ng mga magulang, ng kanilang mga lolo. Gusto natin, ang mga simulain noong panahon ni Bonifacio, ay lumaganap ito hanggang (sa) kabataan,” Alon said.

“Kailangan nating i-develop, bata pa sila, alam nila ‘yung history, ang kasaysayan ng lipunan, na hindi pala hinihingi ang benepisyo katulad ng dagdag-sahod. Pinaglalaban pala ito. At kung kailangan pang mag-rally, ay magra-rally ang mga magulang para makamit ang dagdag-sahod,” he continued.

Alon explained that the government has forgotten its obligation to the people, and so the people must press the government to carry out its duties.

“Ang gobyerno, linimot na ‘yung obligasyon niya sa kanyang mga mamamayan, lalo na sa kanyang mga manggagawa. Kaya tungkulin ng mga mamamayan na habulin sa gobyerno ang itupad niya ang obligasyon niya sa kanyang mamamayan,” he told DZRH.

The rallyists left DOLE to continue their protest at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila in commemoration of the 54th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.