MARKING four decades of championing public sector welfare, the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) has renewed its push for substantial wage increases, job security, and systemic government accountability.
On its 40th anniversary, the state workers’ union highlighted how corruption and the misuse of public funds directly undermine public service delivery while eroding workers’ living standards.
COURAGE reiterated its support for using the impeachment process to enforce accountability, calling for independent and transparent investigations into reported corruption and irregularities in government programs, including flood control projects.
“Government employees witness firsthand how corruption deprives our people of essential services and denies workers the wages, benefits, and job security they deserve,” said Santiago Y. Dasmariñas Jr., National President of COURAGE.
“Every peso lost to corruption is a peso taken away from healthcare, education, social services, decent compensation for public servants, and programs that uplift the lives of ordinary Filipinos,” added Dasmariñas.
The organization pointed out that systemic graft carries consequences far beyond immediate financial losses.
According to COURAGE, the misuse of resources leads directly to the chronic underfunding of social services, the rejection of meaningful wage hikes, and the widespread practice of contractualization and precarious employment across government agencies.
In light of ongoing political developments, COURAGE urged national leaders, particularly members of the Senate, to abandon partisan interests and focus on addressing pressing national economic concerns.
“The Filipino people deserve public officials who prioritize accountability, transparency, and public welfare over political maneuvering and personal ambition,” Dasmariñas emphasized, noting that government institutions must prioritize justice and basic needs during difficult economic times.
Founded 40 years ago to protect state workers’ rights, COURAGE concluded its anniversary statement by reaffirming its pledge to mobilize for higher compensation, job security, and an ethical, transparent public sector that serves the Filipino people.
