Senator Win Gatchalian is one of the top picks of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) among the senatorial candidates for the May 9 elections.

Gatchalian’s endorsement by the country’s biggest aggrupation of organized labor groups is due to his support to the TUCP’s job creation agenda and his commitment to address the need for policy and legislative reforms to ensure affordable electricity in the country and make it competitive in the ASEAN region.

“Isa sa common denominator na pinagbasehan namin sa mga napili naming mga senador ay ‘yung merong magandang track record at meron nang isinulong na batas na kasalukuyang pinakikinabangan na natin,” said Alan Tanjusay, TUCP spokesperson.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa TUCP sa tiwalang ibinigay nila sa akin. Makakaasa kayo na katuwang ninyo ako sa Senado lalo na kapag napagbigyan tayong muling manilbihan sa publiko,” Gatchalian said.

In expressing his gratitude to the support given by the TUCP, which has 480,000 members, Gatchalian vowed to push some of their proposed policy and legislative measures should he be given another six-year term. These include job generation, tax reforms to provide economic relief to workers, workers’ right to safe and healthy workplaces, poverty alleviation, ensuring a reliable supply of electricity and reduction of expensive power rates, among many others.

Gatchalian said he shares TUCP’s vision of setting up a national railway system under a public-private partnership setup which will have a multiplier effect as it will not decongest the traffic situation but also generate new jobs and business opportunities in various regions.

“Kung may maayos na railway system, hindi magiging problema sa mga manggagawa ang mamasukan sa iba’t ibang lugar dahil magiging mabilis na ang kanilang pagko-commute at mas magiging produktibo pa sila,” the senator said.

The TUCP finalized last April 17  the 12 senatorial candidates they’re supporting.