Catholic and Philippine Church leaders have said governance, economic policy and environmental management are closely linked, warning that ongoing corruption and poor labor conditions continue to undermine public welfare and economic development.
Gerardo A. Alminaza, Bishop of the Diocese of San Carlos and president of Caritas Philippines, said the disasters, compounded by corruption in infrastructure projects, disproportionately affect low-income workers, including agricultural workers, fishermen, and illegal workers.
“Environment, economy, and management are closely connected,” said Mr. Alminaza BusinessWorld on the sidelines of the Labor Consultative Assembly meeting on Saturday.
“When the environment is destroyed, disasters follow – and those who suffer the most are the workers,” he added.
He placed this issue within Catholic social teaching, citing the principle that a person’s dignity and work should come before money.
Labor leaders echoed the assessment, insisting that stagnant wages, insecure contracts, and limited union protections have left workers vulnerable amid rising costs and ongoing environmental and economic pressures.
Julius H. Cainglet, vice president of the Federation of Free Workers, said BusinessWorld that labor conditions should be considered as a key indicator of economic performance and national governance.
“Filipino workers are at the forefront of the economy,” said Mr. Cainglet.
Without them, production stops. Therefore, workers must be at the center of policy decisions, not just landlords or entrenched political regimes.
“The working class has a great role to play in social change. Collective action and solidarity are essential to confront corruption, improve governance, and ensure that the economy works for the people, not just the few,” added Leodegario “Ka Leody” de Guzman, chairman of the Partido Lakas ng Masa.
IBON Foundation Executive Director Jose Enrique “Sonny” A. Afrika said corruption has various effects on public services.
“Reducing corruption understood as better spending will improve the social and economic services used by workers, like all Filipinos. But this has reached a certain point – providing all public services at the required level will take more than fixing corruption,” said Mr. Africa BusinessWorld in a Viber chat.
Mr. Alminaza said the failure to provide fair wages, safe working conditions, and safe employment in the Church’s institutions undermines the credibility of its broader ethical claims.
Labor representatives called for concrete changes, including legal wage increases, an end to contractualization, stronger union rights, and accountability for non-retirement measures.
They added the need for environmental systems coupled with worker protection, pointing to climate-related disasters and poorly managed infrastructure as areas where systemic change is essential.
While acknowledging some efforts by the current administration, such as the investigation of flood control projects, Church leaders and workers say these efforts remain insufficient. They point to entrenched political generations, long-standing corruption, and policy inconsistency as structural barriers to sustainable economic and social development.
“The challenges are systematic, they involve a lot of management,” said Mr. Cainglet. “Workers are increasingly realizing that issues like corruption, climate risk, and governance directly affect their livelihoods. Only a united approach across sectors can achieve meaningful change.” – Erika Mae P. Sinaking
