On Tuesday and Wednesday, our organizing training continued with a wide variety of esteemed presenters. Representing the Akbayan Citizens Action Party, we heard from General Secretary Odan Gutierrez. He gave us an overview of the political situation in the Philippines and the electoral organizing that his party does. He was followed by Khylla Meneses, the Akbayan Youth General Secretary. She taught us about young people in governance. The youth village council is a unique way to include youth in politics and support their advocacy.

Ninian Sumadia presented on sectoral organizing in the context of the National Anti-Poverty Commission and her role as youth sector representative. NAPC is under the office of the president and part of the government structure. It functions to coordinate poverty reduction programs by national and local governments. The heads of 13 different federal agencies are members as well as four presidents of local government leagues. There are spots on the commission for 14 basic sectors like artisanal fisherfolk, NGOs, people with disabilities, senior citizens and youth. Ninian was appointed by a former president for a 3 yr term and the next president made an extension. Basic sectors have at least 100 organizations that are part of a sectoral assembly and then they hold elections for representatives. NAPC provides a mechanism to effect change and advocate within the government structure and it has been a great start for poverty reduction and alleviation. It provides a platform for policy advocacy, political participation, mobilization, education, capacity building, initiating partnerships, projects and initiatives and media presence. 

Josephine Parilla spoke to us on behalf of HOMENET international.  She was their first international president. They  organize women in informal employment and have members in 71 affiliates across countries. Informal employment is rising in the Philippines. These workers often face invisibility in statistics and lack of representation, lack of access to social services and lack of workplace protections. HOMENET has a role in organizing around health and safety in workplace, discrimination and harassment and unsafe conditions.

Our last guest was Abraham Reyes, a Project Coordinator for TGSL IndustriALL Solidarity Center Project. He reminded us about the importance of organizing and guided us on best practices for bringing new union members into our movement. He also gave us an overview of the organizing landscape in the Philippines.

The information provided by our guests  is particularly useful for us as North American union leaders in the construction industry because it provides valuable insights into innovative organizing strategies and structures that can be adapted to their own contexts. For instance, the involvement of youth in governance through mechanisms like the youth village council demonstrates how to engage younger generations in leadership and advocacy, ensuring the sustainability of union movements. The example of the National Anti-Poverty Commission showcases a model for structured representation and collaboration between basic sectors and government, which could inspire similar initiatives to strengthen labor voices in policymaking. HOMENET International’s approach to organizing informal workers highlights the importance of addressing the needs of underrepresented groups, such as subcontracted or precarious workers in construction, while emphasizing health, safety, and equity. Finally, Abraham Reyes’ emphasis on organizing best practices offers actionable strategies for growing membership and building solidarity, which are critical for sustaining and expanding union power in any industry. We are extremely grateful to all of those who took time out of their day to contribute to our delegation. Tradeswomen Building Bridges values information exchange and solidarity building between countries.