The National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) successfully conducted its first ever virtual awarding ceremonies for its biennial Search for Outstanding Labor-Management Cooperation and Grievance Machinery for Industrial Peace on 15 December 2021.

Held via Zoom platform and streamed live on NCMB’s Facebook and Youtube accounts, it was attended by more than 1,000 participants from 241 organized and unorganized establishments and LMC and GM advocates, practitioners and stakeholders.

The ceremony was graced by esteemed guests including Senator Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva, DOLE Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III, DOLE Undersecretary Philip A. Paredes, Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution Executive Director Irene D.T. Alogoc, Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) Honorary Chairman and President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr., and PHILAMCOP President Teofilo S. Colocado, Jr.

In her opening remarks, NCMB Executive Director Maria Teresita D. Lacsamana-Cancio joyfully welcomed the guests and participants and recognized that the awarding ceremony is “not only for the NCMB people, the national finalists and LMC and GM enthusiasts but also for all who believe in the power and wonder of collaborative efforts and cooperative works.” She mentioned that the NCMB is “beyond exultant in noting that the LMCs and GMs responded with convincing resoluteness in addressing the pandemic and a host of other disruptions.”

Finally, ED Cancio stated that the event is more than just an awarding ceremony but a celebration of the tough and steadfast spirit of Labor-Management Committees, Councils and Grievance Machineries. Therefore, a salute is in order for the exceptional roles they played with reassuring flair and a toast to their responsiveness and resilience in times of disruptions is forthcoming..

In her message of support, Atty. Alogoc stressed the role of mechanisms such as Grievance Machinery and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in building a conducive environment and promoting a friendly dialogue in the workplace. She likewise underscored the essential part of the NCMB and the OADR in shifting from litigation to ADR. She emphasized that this can only be achieved through consensus collaboration and persistence to bring ADR at the frontlines of justice.

As the employer sector representative, Mr. Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr., President of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), emphasized the importance of social dialogue and cooperation between workers and employers to survive the challenges of the pandemic and that building trust and confidence through dialogue mechanisms between workers and employers is crucial in ensuring that policies being crafted are adapted to the needs of the key labor market players. He stated that the pandemic has truly tested labor and management capabilities and resilience amid retrenchments and closures and encouraged them to “continuously foster a mutually beneficial and harmonious relationship within the organizations.”

In his message, PHILAMCOP President Teofilo S. Colocado, Jr. conveyed the need to strengthen the roles of workers and management in enhancing cooperation that drives efficiencies and growth in workplaces. He encouraged all their members to actively participate in promoting good industrial relation practices by showcasing and sharing the existing LMC activities in different industries.

DOLE Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III delivered his inspirational message highlighting the contributions and significance of LMCs and GMs in addressing labor issues such as job dismissals, retrenchments and company closures amid the COVID-19 pandemic and how a working and effective LMC and GM enabled both the employees and the management to resolve disputes through mutually acceptable means.

Secretary Bello also took the opportunity to commend the NCMB, under the able leadership of Executive Director Maria Teresita Lacsamana-Cancio, for the unwavering commitment to the cause of industrial peace especially during this challenging time. He added that NCMB has remained steadfast in coming up with ways to enhance harmonious relationships in every workplace – this twin search, for instance.

In closing, Secretary Bello said, “I am positive that the Board will continuously come up with more innovative strategies to improve and empower both labor and management. Rest assured that you have my support.”

In his keynote message, Senator Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva underscored the importance of the people over profit approach which is also the essence of the laws he authored, sponsored and passed in the Senate. He believes that “if we recognize the intrinsic value of workers, our companies will become more profitable,” and argues that “if the workers feel valued, happy, inspired and safe in their workplaces, they work harder, deliver more, and perform with greater integrity. They become assets, so that the business can be more profitable and sustainable.”
“I believe this must belong to the objectives of an effective Labor Management Cooperation, achieving both job satisfaction and good business performance amid the challenges of the current pandemic and the new normal”, he added.
He congratulated the finalists and winners and concluded his message with an invitation to the participants “to be the industry leaders who value employees’ well being and satisfaction”, urged them to “make positive change happen and improve industrial relations in the workplace” and challenged them to “value people over profit.”
The members of the NBoJ for the Search for Outstanding LMCs and GMs were invited to announce the winners. For the Search for Outstanding LMCs in the organized category, the winners were announced by Ms. Teresita E. Audea, NCMB Deputy Executive Director and Chairperson of the National Screening Committee (NSC) while Dr. Janet S. Cuenca, Director of the Bureau of Trade and Industrial Policy Research of the Department of Trade and Industry and member of the National Board of Judges (NBoJ) announced the winners in the unorganized category. They are as follows:
Organized Category
CAGELCO II Labor Management Organization (CLAMOR)
Cagayan II Electric Cooperative (CAGELCO) (Region II)
MVC LMC
Mabuhay Vinyl Corporation – Iligan Plant (Region X)
TMC Labor Management Council
Taganito Mining Corporation (Region XIII).

Unorganized Category
AMP Employee Council
Ampleon Philippines, Inc. (Region IV-A)
Employee Engagement Committee
Philippine Gold Processing & Refining Corporation (Region V)

Recipients of the Special Awards were announced by Mr. Jose Roland A. Moya, Director General of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines and member of the NBoJ, as follows:

Effective Organizational Features of the LMC
Interdependent Disciplined United Ilagan Plant
Coca-Cola Bottlers Phils., Inc. – FEMSA (Region II)
Coca-Cola Bottlers Phils., Inc. LMC
Coca-Cola Bottlers Phils., Inc. – Imus (Region IV-A)
Davao Doctors Hospital Labor & Management Cooperation (DLMC)
Davao Doctors Hospital, Inc. (Region XI)
REPI Employee Engagement Council (EMC)-Partners
ROHM Electronics Philippines (Region IV-A)

Strategic Partnership
TADECO Bananero’s Family Circle (TBFC-LMC)
Tagum Agricultural Development Company (TADECO) (Region XI)
Mary Mediatrix Medical Center LMC
Mary Mediatrix Medical Center (Region IV-A)

Enhanced Corporate Viability
Kaibigan Committee
SN Aboitiz Power Benguet (CAR)
Dap-ayan ti John Hay
The Manor at Camp John Hay (CAR)

Quality of Work Life
Knowles Employee and Family Welfare Committee
Knowles Electronics Philippines (Region VII)

Most Enthusiastic Team
Joy@Work Council
Zenith Food Corporation (Region IV-A)

For the 2021 Search for Outstanding Grievance Machinery for Industrial Peace, the winners were triumphantly announced by Atty. Josephus B. Jimenez, former DOLE Undersecretary, PAVA President and member of the NBoJ and Mr. Edwin A. Bustillos, Sectoral Representative of the National Anti-Poverty Commission and also a member of the NBoJ. The winners are as follows:

Carmen Copper Corporation – Hall of Fame Awardee
Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Inc.

The Outstanding LMCs and GMs were awarded with a glass trophy and a cash prize of Php100,000.00 each.

To conclude the ceremony, DOLE Undersecretary Philip A. Paredes extended his congratulations to the winners of the Twin Search.

“We are all deeply impressed with your passion and commitment, adapting gracefully in face of adversity, bending over without breaking in springing back to form beautifully,” said Usec. Paredes.

He ended his message by acknowledging the overwhelming efforts of the national finalists and assuring them that their efforts are not wasted as they have already served the very purpose of the Search.

END/ Pia Bianca B. Sambrano