Bangsamoro Workers: CM Macacua Describes Them as the Backbone of Progress on Labor Day
COTABATO CITY (May 1, 2025) — Today, Chief Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua led the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in commemorating the 123rd Labor Day, paying tribute to the hardworking men and women who drive the region’s progress and development.
In a speech delivered to labor leaders, business representatives, government partners, and members of the workforce during the regional Labor Day celebration, Chief Minister Macacua emphasized the essential role of the Bangsamoro labor force in promoting peace, prosperity, and inclusive growth.
“Today, we pay tribute to the lifeblood of our economy—the steady hands and determined hearts of our labor force,” he stated. “We gather not just to acknowledge the value of work but to recognize the worth of the worker.”
Echoing this year’s theme, “Manggagawang Bangsamoro: Kaagapay sa Pag-unload, Sandigan ng Mas Matatag na Bagong Pilipinas,” the Chief Minister highlighted that the region’s progress is inextricably linked to the strength, dignity, and resilience of its workers.
He reaffirmed the regional government’s commitment to promoting decent work, ensuring equitable opportunities, and safeguarding the rights and welfare of all workers, including those in the formal sector, returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), and individuals in the informal economy.
Chief Minister Macacua also spotlighted key labor initiatives spearheaded by the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE), such as BREED (Bangsamoro Rural Employment through Entrepreneurial Development), BILP (Bangsamoro Integrated Livelihood Program), and BIDP (Bangsamoro Internship Program).
He noted that these programs are instrumental in creating pathways to sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment, particularly for youth, women, and returning migrant workers across the Bangsamoro region.
Furthermore, Chief Minister Macacua called for strengthened collaboration among government institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector to build a robust and inclusive regional labor ecosystem.
“Let us move forward not as separate sectors but as one Bangsamoro—stronger, fairer, united by work, bound by shared sacrifice, and driven by the same hope: a life of dignity for every worker and a future that honors their labor,” he concluded. (BMN/BangsamoroToday)
