MANILA, Philippines – Labor groups applauded the strong directive of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during his inaugural speech Thursday (30 June) afternoon on how he intends to combat government agency crimes and irregularities.

However the SENTRO ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) Secretary General Josua Mata states that the President does not need to put emphasis on just easing air traffic congestion, removing fixers, and eliminating online gambling in the country.

He said to meet the people’s expectations the President would need a lot more than these measures.

“What we need to hear are the hard structural reforms that would lead to decent regular jobs for all such as full employment, living wage, universal social protection, and quality public services,” Mata told Center for People’s Media (CPM).

Mata has believes that if the President wants true social and political change, he must have a complete alternative government solution and implementation strategy.

“All this requires a break from the flawed development policies that the Aquino government foolishly carried out. Unfortunately, Duterte’s 8-point economic agenda is exactly the same policy as the previous administration’s,” Mata explained.

Mata adds that like PNoy, Duterte’s government has signaled its interest to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP); claiming that if this happens labor unrest and exploitation will deteriorate.

“Not only would this open us to the ravages of TNCs, it would also prevent us from carrying out the hard structural reforms that we badly need,” Mata said. CPM