The University of the Philippines School of Labor and Industrial Relations (UP SOLAIR)- Historical Overview and Assessment.

1. THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
TO LABOR EMPOWERMENT:
From the
Labor Education Center (LEC)
to the
School of Labor and Industrial
Relations (SOLAIR)
Prof. Jorge V. Sibal
Director,
UP SOLAIR
Center for Labor and Grassroots Initiatives
[

2. The UP School of Labor &
Industrial Relations (SOLAIR)
• The UP SOLAIR is the unit in the
University that is within the mainstream of
the Asian and Philippine labor movement.
• It houses the statue of Don Isabelo de los
Reyes, founder of the first Philippine trade
union federation in 1902.
• Its main edifice was named after the great
plebian Gat. Andres Bonifacio.

3. The UP School of Labor &
Industrial Relations (SOLAIR)
Among the common people and their organizations
like trade unions, NGOs, cooperatives and other
peoples’ organizations, the UP SOLAIR is the spot
in UP Diliman that is the closest to their hearts.

4. The UP School of Labor &
Industrial Relations (SOLAIR)
• The cement mosaic artwork of Ricardo F.
Lara is a symbol of “labor-management
cooperation aimed at promoting world
brotherhood of men” (Dedication Program, Jan. 6, 1960)
•This has
become the
symbol of
UP SOLAIR.

5. The UP Labor Education Center
(LEC)
• In 1954, SOLAIR started as Labor Education
Center (LEC) aimed at educating Filipino
workers and trade union leaders on their rights
and responsibilities.
• It responded to the new era of collective
bargaining and economic unionism under the
Industrial Peace Act (RA 875 or the Magna
Carta of Labor) of 1953 which answered the
labor movement’s demand for less government
and US intervention in trade union activities.

6. The UP
Labor Education Center (LEC)
• UP LEC started as a FOA-PHILCUSA joint
project by UP School of Business
Administration Dean Jose E. Velmonte as
project director.
• Mr. Cicero D. Calderon handled the
Center’s educational activities assisted by
US labor relations experts and the UP
Institute of Public Administration.

7. The UP
Labor Education Center (LEC)
• UP LEC was formally set up in May 1954
as joint project of the governments of the
Philippines and the United States.
• It was assisted by the National Economic
Council (NEC) and the International
Cooperation Administration (ICA), the
forerunners of the NEDA and USAID
respectively.

8. The UP
Labor Education Center (LEC)
• The University of Connecticut assisted UP
LEC as per the July 1, 1954 contract of
the 2 educational institutions.
• Its maiden program was an 8-days
seminar on Democratic Unionism co-
sponsored with the League of Women
Voters of the Philippines.

9. The UP
Labor Education Center (LEC)
• Dr. Cicero D. Calderon was the first
director of the UP LEC from 1954-1958.
• The LEC was housed in a 2-storey
building at 547 Herran St., Manila behind
the UP College of Medicine bldg.
• The LEC operated 3 regional offices in
Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

10. Objectives of UP LEC
• Educate workers, officers and members
of trade unions in the principles and
methods of free, democratic and
responsible trade unionism;
• Promote collective bargaining in solving
labor and management problems;
• Promote an atmosphere for healthy
labor-management relationships.

11. UP LEC Programs
• Labor education for unions
• Labor-mgt. conferences & seminars in IR
• Help unions set up their education
departments
• Research on issues & problems in labor-
mgt. relations & the labor movement
• Cooperation with gov’t. agencies (DOL,
SSS & Coop. Adm. Office)

12. The Asian Labor Education
Center (ALEC)
• The UP LEC became Asian Labor
Education Center (ALEC) in 1958.
• It expanded activities to Asian trade
unionists w/ a $372,000 Asian Economic
Development Fund grant via the U.S.
International Cooperation Administration.

13. The Asian Labor Education
Center (ALEC)
It constructed a
$200,000
building in UP
Diliman w/c
was
inaugurated in
January 6,
1960 by Pres.
Carlos P.
Garcia.

14. The Asian Labor Education
Center (ALEC)
• Dr. Calderon was ALEC’s director until
1962 when he resigned to become
president of Siliman University in
Dumaguete City.
• Atty. Flerida Ruth Pineda Romero was
OIC from June 1962 to February 1963.

15. The Asian Labor Education
Center (ALEC)
• Its research and extension programs were
assisted by the International Labor
Organization (ILO), United Nation
Educational Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO), US Agency for
International Development (US AID), Asia
Foundation, Colombo Plan and the
International Trade Secretariats.

16. The Asian Labor Education
Center (ALEC)
• The various training programs of UP
ALEC were attended by Asian trade
union leaders from Burma, Ceylon,
Indonesia, Korea, Malaya, Pakistan,
Philippines, Taiwan, etc.
• Asian Labor Leadership Institute (ALLI)
• Resident Labor Leadership Institute
• Union Education Directors’ Institute

17. The Asian Labor Education
Center (ALEC)
• Atty. Ramon T. Jimenez was director of
UP ALEC from 1963 to April 15, 1970.
• Asian experts were invited to talk in
special lectures.
• Director Jimenez created the Labor
Research Council, an interdisciplinary
body to conduct studies.

18. From UP LEC to ALEC,
A Brief Assessment
• UP ALEC in the 50s to 70s collaborated with US
AID to redirect the trade unions from radical
communist programs like Lope K. Santos who
registered Union Obrera Democratica Filipina
(UODF) with the US colonial government in
1905 after Don Belong de los Reyes and Dr.
Dominador Gomez were arrested & jailed.
• Like Lope K. Santos, UP ALEC sought the
legitimacy and continuity of the trade union
movement in order to continue serving the
working class.

19. The Crisis of UP ALEC
• In 1970s, the US AID funds were given
directly to trade union federations.
• This resulted to “a contraction of training
activities... The incoming socio-economic
& political crises reduced sharply funds for
workers’ education… as trade unions
became competent & capable in training
their members and officials.” (Gatchalian)

20. The Crisis of UP ALEC
• Labor education at ALEC declined as labor and
social movements became more radical.
• Internally, ALEC suffered rapid turnover,
absenteeism and low morale due to diminishing
training & consultancy from trade unions.
• The newly created Institute of Labor and
Manpower Studies (ILMAS) as Ministry of
Labor’s research and training arm rivaled &
duplicated ALEC in many areas.”

21. The Crisis of UP ALEC
• UP ALEC was recommended by the
Committee to Review Academic Programs
(CRAP) initiated by the new UP President
for possible transfer to the labor ministry
or absorption by another academic unit
• To fight this threat, UP ALEC through
Director Dia launched an institution
building strategy for survival.

22. The Transition to the Institute of
Industrial Relations (IIR)
• To be relevant to the University & to
prevent dissolution or diminution, UP
ALEC under Director Manuel Dia
introduced in April 8, 1975 a graduate
program in industrial relations approved by
the Board of Regents.
• It pioneered in Asia the discipline in labor
studies and industrial relations (IR) to
become a full-fledge member of the UP
academic community, the 40th degree
granting unit.

23. The Transition to the Institute of
Industrial Relations (IIR)
• started with 2 regular faculty members
• recruited lecturers from other UP colleges
and practitioners from the management,
labor and government to beef up faculty
• adopted “Philippine Business
Environment” course from the MBA
program of the College of Business
Administration as one of its core subjects

24. The Transition to the Institute of
Industrial Relations (IIR)
• In 1977, Prof. Dia became the first dean of
UP ALEC. Dean Dia however joined the
International Labor Organization (ILO) in
Geneva, Switzerland in 1981.
• Prof. Jose C. Gatchalian was appointed
OIC until he became dean in February 25,
1982, the day when ALEC was elevated
into an Institute of Industrial Relations
(IIR).

25. The UP Institute of Industrial
Relations (IIR)
• The Board of Regents elevated the ALEC
into a full-fledged Institute because “the
present functions of the unit have
broadened in scope and its clientele
expanded to accommodate three
important sectors in industrial relations—
labor, management and government.”

26. Institution Building Strategy
Institution building was the hallmark of the
deanship of Dr. Jose C. Gatchalian.

27. Institution Building Strategy
The development of people, particularly of the
faculty and staff, was vigorously pursued and
many were sent for master and doctoral studies
from UP and educational institutions in Europe, the
United States, Japan and Australia.

28. The Workers’ Institute on Labor
Laws (WILL)
• The Workers’ Institute on Labor Laws
(WILL) program based at the College of
Law was transferred to the Institute as
initiated by Dean Manuel A. Dia. It was
approved by UP President Edgardo J.
Angara. Its interim coordinator was Atty.
Manuel C. Inoc and the first regular
coordinator was Prof. Teodorico P. Calica.

29. Objectives of the Graduate
Program in IR
• To educate students & staff members of unions,
management, government agencies, and
educational institutions for a professional career
in labor relations and hrd programs in industry,
government and civil society;
• To undertake research on policies and policy
formulation in labor and manpower programs;
• To provide consultancy services and other
extension activities.

30. UP IIR Workers Education Program
(WEP)
• Organized or unionized workers- focused on
advanced and specialized residential 2-3
weeks trainings of unions.
• Non-traditional labor organizations- Non-
unionized workers, associations of peasants
and farm workers, community and civil society
organizations, cooperatives and non-
government and peoples’ organization
representatives in the government

31. UP IIR Under Dean Gatchalian
The Institute shifted the cost of training programs
by the sponsoring organizations to a 50-50
sharing of costs unlike in the US AID days.
• After the EDSA 1 People Power uprising, the
Institute conducted in August 1986 a “Workers’
Education Program on the Air” at the
government station DZRM of the Radyo ng
Bayan in Bohol Avenue, Quezon City.

32. UP IIR Under Dean Gatchalian
• The UP IIR introduced and promoted labor
management cooperation (or councils-LMCs)
nationwide. This strategy was pursued with
DOLE, DTI & other government offices agencies
that dealt with labor organizations and non-
government organizations (NGOs) such as the
Businessmen-Bishops Conference (BBC).
• The campaign succeeded in substantially toning
down industrial conflict. As a result, UP IIR
Dean Jose C. Gatchalian received the BBC
Sikap-Gawa Industrial Peace Award in 1992.

33. UP IIR Under Dean Ofreneo
• Prof. Rene E. Ofreneo
became dean with the
elevation of the
Institute to the School
of Labor and Industrial
Relations (SOLAIR) in
March 24, 1988.

34. UP SOLAIR Under
Dean Ofreneo
• The School’s research & extension programs
expanded with new forms of labor utilization
(informal sector labor, contingent workers, etc.)
and organizing (workers cooperatives, NGO-
assisted initiatives, etc.). SOLAIR’s training
increased to include cooperatives, social
movement unionism, peasant organizations &
grassroots entrepreneurism. The WEP was
transformed into the Labor Education and
Extension Program (LEEP).

35. UP SOLAIR Under
Dean Ofreneo
Dean Ofreneo initiated a college-based
foundation in 1990 to augment the
resource generation capabilities of the
School. The Center for Labor Education,
Advocacy, Research and Development,
Inc. (CLEARED, Inc.) was organized by
representatives of labor and employers
and government with former Education
Undersecretary Hemenigildo Dumlao as
Chairman.

36. UP SOLAIR Under
Dean Ofreneo
• SOLAIR’s Vision is to “maintain itself as the
country’s premier educational institution in the
field of industrial relations and human resources
development and to be at par with the best
among similar institutions overseas by providing
quality and timely IR/HR instruction, research
and extension services that promote the general
empowerment of the major Philippine IR actors
in the over-all context of professionalization,
democratization and humanization of work and
work relations”. (Jan. 1, 1991)

37. UP SOLAIR Under
Dean Ofreneo
• UP SOLAIR’s Mission: “Committed to the
empowerment of labor; enlightened
industrial relations, and social justice,
[SOLAIR] shall for this purpose provide
the highest quality of instruction, research
and extension services.
• The School seeks the enlightenment of
workers and the strengthening of their
organizations, and the democratization
and humanization of industrial relations as
a profession”.

38. UP SOLAIR’s Mandates
• To provide instruction to students to
professionalize the practice of IR.
• To assist, through workers education the
development of free & democratic trade unions,
peasant organizations, cooperatives & other
workers organizations.
• To conduct research that will foster sound IR,
the review & formulation of labor policies, &
enlighten the IR actors.
• To provide extension services to labor and
other sectors. (SOLAIR’s Organic Act of 1991).

39. UP SOLAIR Under
Dean Ofreneo
• The School initiated labor initiatives in the
University, the All-UP Workers Union and the UP
Employees Housing Cooperative, which have
been articulating the most urgent welfare
concerns of the UP faculty and staff.
• The School helped emergent workers’
cooperatives which took over the huge
pineapple, rubber, palm oil, and other
plantations in Mindanao.

40. UP SOLAIR under
Dean Marie Aganon (1992-95)
• In response to the
pahinungod program of UP
President Javier, Dean
Aganon launched SOLAIR’s
Free Labor Leadership
Institute (SOFLLI). It gave
free seminars on trade
unionism, cooperativism and
self-managed enterprises.

41. UP SOLAIR under
Dean Marie Aganon
• The School tied up with the DOLE’s
Workers Organizations and Development
Program (WODP) to strengthen extension
activities to labor organizations
nationwide.

42. UP SOLAIR under
Dean Marie Aganon
• Several SOLAIR faculty, students and
alumni attended the 10th World Congress
of the IIRA in Washington DC, USA in
1995.
• The School conducted 6 major research
projects & implemented training to
enhance the capabilities of government
employees through a MOA with the Civil
Service Commission

43. UP SOLAIR Expands Under
Dean Rene Ofreneo II
• For the second time, Dr. Rene Ofreneo
was appointed dean in November 1995.
• In line with the Vision-Mission of the
School, Dean Ofreneo launched the 3-
pronged program of consolidation,
expansion and modernization of the
School’s programs and facilities.

44. UP SOLAIR Expands Under
Dean Rene Ofreneo II
1. The increase in student enrollment by
more than 50% from 250 or more to 500
a semester.
2. The successful elevation of the IR
graduate courses to the UP system
program in UP Cebu, Mindanao and
Baguio in response to the demands from
regions experiencing transformation.

45. UP SOLAIR Expands Under
Dean Rene Ofreneo II
3. The expansion of the School’s research and
extension programs into 3 centers- Center for
Labor and Grassroots Initiatives (CLGI),
Center for Industry Productivity and
Competitiveness (CIPC) and Center for the
Administration of Labor Justice (CaLJ).
4. The rehabilitation and modernization of the
School buildings and facilities.
5. The various awards reaped by the School at
the University and national levels.

46. UP SOLAIR Expands Under
Dean Rene Ofreneo II
• Some faculty members, students and
alumni participated and presented papers
in the IIRA Congresses in Taipeh, Taiwan
and in Bologna, Italy.
• In 1996, the School formalized a tie-up
with the Employers’ Confederation of the
Philippines (ECOP)

47. UP SOLAIR Expands Under Dean
Rene Ofreneo II
• The establishment of the National Academy of
Voluntary Arbitration (NAVA) at UP SOLAIR was
a joint undertaking with the National Conciliation
and Meditation Board (NCMB), Tripartite
Voluntary Arbitration Council and the Philippine
Association of Voluntary Arbitration (PAVA).
• The aim was to promote voluntary arbitration as
an alternative mode of settling industrial disputes
for foster industrial harmony.

48. UP SOLAIR Expands Under Dean
Rene Ofreneo II
• Many publications not funded by the
University were produced from 1996-1998.
Among these were: two special issues of
the Philippine Journal of Labor and
Industrial Relations; a student and alumni
magazine Towards and Paradigm Shift:
Globalization, IR/HR and UP SOLAIR in
1996; and a 1998 yearbook Strategic
Choices of the 1996-1998 graduates.

49. UP SOLAIR Expands Under Dean
Rene Ofreneo II
• From 1996 to 1998 before Dean Ofreneo
was appointed by Pres. Fidel Ramos as
Labor Undersecretary, the School
received two national awards, 3 UP
Gawad Chancellor awards and 1 minor
award.
• Dr. Maragtas S.V. Amante (May - August,
1998) and Prof. Jorge V. Sibal (Sept.-Dec.
1998) acted as Officers-in-Charge.

50. UP SOLAIR Under Dean
Maragtas S. V. Amante (1999-01)
• Dr. Amante
implemented the
construction of
SOLAIR
infrastructure
raised from
various sources..

51. UP SOLAIR Under Dean
Maragtas S. V. Amante (1999-01)
• The old Perico restaurant was remodeled
into classrooms while the main ALEC
building housing the classrooms and
library was demolished and reconstructed
into 2 floors with 15 million pesos from
Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and 10 million
pesos from Chancellor Claro Llaguno’s
administration.

52. UP SOLAIR Under Dean
Maragtas S. V. Amante
• Sen. Coseteng donated 1.5 million pesos
to rehabilitate the Isabelo de los Reyes
Auditorium while fashion designer Bobby
Novenario, a grandchild of Don Belong de
los Reyes donated an oil painting of his
grandfather. Representative Jules
Ledesma donated 1 million pesos to
rehabilitate the School’s canteen.

53. UP SOLAIR Under Dean
Maragtas S. V. Amante
• Dean Amante strengthened the School’s
CLEARED, Inc. foundation. Linkages with FES,
Japan Foundation, ILO, IIRA and the Philippine
Industrial Relations Society, Inc. (PIRS) were
enhanced.
• In 2000, the SOLAIR faculty attended and
presented papers in the 12th World Congress of
the IIRA in Tokyo, Japan under Japan
Foundation. UP SOLAIR & PIRS, hosted the 4th
Asian Regional Congress of IIRA in Dusit Hotel
Makati in 2001.

54. UP SOLAIR Under Dean
Maragtas S. V. Amante
• Exchange visits of professors and
researchers from various international
universities were undertaken. These
were: Cornell University, Ithaca, New
York, USA; Keio University, Tokyo, Japan;
University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada;
University of Melbourne, Australia; J. W.
Goethe University, Germany; and
University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA.

55. UP SOLAIR Under Dean Juan
Amor Palafox (2002-04)
• Prof. Juan Amor Palafox became dean of UP
SOLAIR in January 1, 2002. With an increased
tuition fee and newly constructed buildings,
Dean Palafox improved the facilities of the
school with new furniture, a computer laboratory
room, internet connection of computers, LCD
projectors, new sound system for the auditorium,
etc.
• He maintained the physical facilities used by
training clients and students.

56. UP SOLAIR Under Dean Juan
Amor Palafox
• Dean Palafox pursued “relentless” training
in partnership with the School’s foundation
to augment resources. Researches
among faculty and staff were enhanced.
• The UP SOLAIR paper presenters in the
13th World Congress of IIRA in Berlin,
Germany in 2003 were supported by the
FES. In the Asian IIRA Congress in
Seoul, Korea in 2004, it was supported by
CLEARED Inc.

57. UP SOLAIR Under Dean Juan
Amor Palafox
• UP SOLAIR formalized its links with local
professional associations in IR and HR
like the Personnel Management
Association of the Philippines (PMAP),
Philippine Society for Training and
Development (PSTD), Philippine
Association of Labor Management
Councils (PALMCO) and Philippine
Association of Labor-Management Council
Professionals (Philamcop).

58. UP SOLAIR Today
• The School has 13 regular faculty
members, 11 part time professorial
lecturers. Eleven faculty members have
doctoral degrees, and the rest have
master’s or law degrees with rich
experiences in the practice of labor
management relations and human
resource development at the workplace,
industry, and national policy levels.

59. UP SOLAIR Today
• More than 3,000 participants annually
have participated in the School’s short
term 2-3 days certificate programs.
Participants were mostly managers,
government officials, labor leaders, and
practitioners from the private, public and
civil society sectors.

60. UP SOLAIR Library
• UP SOLAIR’s new library is housed in the new
2-storey building funded by Sen. Magsaysay. It
contains reserved books, reference & circulation
materials (local and foreign books), special
collections like the Cid collections and some
archival materials.
• There are 3 computers with internet connections
and a microfilm reader. It has the most
extensive collection of books, monographs, and
journals dealing with labor, IR & HRD.

61. UP SOLAIR Today
• With a core faculty of researchers and
practitioners with facilities and its local and
international network, the UP SOLAIR plays a
major role in developing programs in IR which
meet the challenges of globalization.
• The rich and varied experiences of UP SOLAIR
in IR & HRD is an advantage of the University in
promoting labor empowerment, social justice
and sound IR in the context of total human
development.

62. UP SOLAIR Today
• The School has regularly organized
symposia, conferences and workshops on
industrial relations wherein distinguished
local and international scholars, trade
union and business leaders, as well as
government officials interact in a social
dialogue over key issues affecting
industrial relations.

63. Awards and Accomplishments
of UP SOLAIR
• Sikap Gawa Industrial Peace Award in
1992 to UP SOLAIR Dean Jose
Gatchalian by the Bishops-
Businessmen’s Conference (BBC);
• Gawad Tsanselor for Prof. Maragtas
S.V. Amante for “Best Faculty
Researcher” and for Ms. Cecilia Laquian-
Basa for “Most Outstanding University
Extension Specialist” in 1995;

64. Awards and Accomplishments
of UP SOLAIR
3. Sikap-Gawa Industrial Peace Award for
“Training and Research” in 1996 by the
Bishops-Businessmen’s Conference for
Human Development;
4. “Most Symbolic and Relevant Booth”
during the UP Diliman Week booth
competition in February 1996;

65. Awards and Accomplishments
of UP SOLAIR
• Gawad Chanselor for
“Pinakamakahulugang Eksibit” (Most
Meaningful Exhibit) in 1996;
• Gawad Chanselor as “Best in Public
Service” called “Pinakamahusay na
Pahinungod” by a UP Diliman unit in
1997;

66. Awards and Accomplishments
of UP SOLAIR
• Quezon Medalya ng Karangalan (Outstanding
Quezonian) to Dean Rene E. Ofreneo for
public service in the field of labor and industrial
relations by the Quezon Provincial
Government in August 19, 1998;
• Gawad Chanselor for “Best in Extension
Program” to the Center for Labor and
Grassroots Initiatives (CLGI) and “Best
Individual Published Research” to Dr. Rene E.
Ofreneo in 2002;

67. Awards and Accomplishments
of UP SOLAIR
9. Gawad Chanselor for “Best in Extension
Program” award in 2003
• Most of the scientific papers on Philippine IR and
HRD presented and published locally and
abroad were research outputs of UP SOLAIR
faculty, alumni and students.
• UP-SOLAIR has provided labor education,
research & extension work with trade unions,
farmers associations, NGOs, management
groups, government agencies

68. Summary and Assessment
• The 50 years existence of UP SOLAIR
illustrates the practice of institution
building within an academe.
• UP SOLAIR grew from a foreign fund-
dependent project to a reputable school of
labor and industrial relations that has
made significant contributions to Philippine
labor empowerment and economic
development.

69. Summary and Assessment
• Its long-term goal was through labor
education and the strengthening of the
trade union movement in the country and
Asia, there will be labor empowerment
since trade unionism and collective
bargaining will assure labor, the
impoverished majority in a developing
economy, a fair share in the
industrialization process.

70. Summary and Assessment
• This will also guarantee democracy in an
industrializing society since the trade
union movement at the core of the labor
movement will countervail the powerful
capitalist elites and government
bureaucrats who are prone to take
advantage of a powerless unorganized
mass of workers.

71. Summary and Assessment
• The Philippine development strategies
from 1950 to 1970s however failed. The
trade union movement which UP SOLAIR
helped nurture was confined to a small
segment in the modern sector of society.
• With a very limited base in a non-
industrialized economy, the trade union
movement suffered from intense rivalries
among unions and federations competing
for the limited trade union membership.

72. Summary and Assessment
• With a vast army of unemployed in the informal
labor, collective bargaining through trade
unionism became unfavorable to the unionized
workers in particular and the informal workers in
general. The process became militant, legalistic
or both which at least increased the workers’
benefits in the formal sector.
• With the TU movement in disarray and groping
for direction in the 70s, UP SOLAIR (then ALEC)
was also fighting for its own survival as an
institution within the University.

73. Summary and Assessment
• It was during this critical period that UP SOLAIR
seriously rationalized its being. It launched an
institution building program (organizational
development) that re-defined its mandates,
vision and strategies.
• Reaffirming its basic mandate as an institution
for labor empowerment through labor education,
UP SOLAIR rationalized that empowering labor
cannot be done on a piecemeal basis, that of
educating the trade union leaders alone.

74. Summary and Assessment
• Labor empowerment involved not only the
organized labor in the formal sector of the
Philippine industrial relations (IR) system
but also the other actors- management,
government and most importantly, the civil
society sector operating in the larger
informal IR system.

75. Summary and Assessment
• Hence, the ALEC reinvented itself with a
graduate program in IR in order to expand
its labor education aimed at labor
empowerment, social justice and
economic development to the other actors
of the Philippine IR system.
• Labor empowerment and social justice
after all cannot be attained if the country
remained un-industrialized.

76. Summary and Assessment
• Industrialization and economic development are
not tasked to the labor movement alone. It is a
joint and collective aspiration and undertaking of
all the IR actors that will benefit from it- labor,
management, government and the civil society
sectors.
• Thus, the UP LEC, ALEC became the UP
Institute of Industrial Relations (IIR) and now the
UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations (UP
SOLAIR).

77. Summary and Assessment
• When President Carlos P. Garcia inaugurated
the UP ALEC building (Bonifacio Hall) in January
6, 1960, the Dedication Program published the
President’s paper “New Deal for Philippine
Labor” with a portion quoted below:
“The next 50 years of the 20th century will
see the Filipino people waging a relentless and
determined war for economic emancipation.
Already, the battle lines are drawn. The
outcome of this struggle will determine whether
the Filipinos are fit to live in a free world of free
men.

78. Summary and Assessment
“In manifestation of our nationalist
goals, my administration is dedicated to
the creation of a balanced agro-industrial
economy that will be capable of giving to
all our people the blessings of a decent,
full and active life.
“I intend that labor shall play a major
role in the realization of our aims” (Garcia,
Carlos 1959).

79. Summary and Assessment
• It is now 45 years after President Garcia
wrote these thoughts.
• Have we lost the relentless war for
economic emancipation?
• It is SOLAIR’s task to continue and help
win this relentless struggle.

80. • Thank You and Good Day.
Prof. Jorge V. Sibal