What does GUGMA mean in UNIONS

Everyone who shares the same vision and goals as GUGMA are welcome to join! Our members come from different backgrounds including laborers, farmers, fishers, indigenous people and urban poor.

The main aim of GUGMA is to empower the vulnerable sectors of society by providing advocacy campaigns, legal assistance and education programs. We also organize activities such as seminars, workshops and conferences to create awareness on labor protection issues.

We are based in Quezon City, Philippines but our activities extend across Metro Manila. Some of our works involve visiting other provinces like Laguna, Rizal and Cavite to provide services to our members from those regions.

GUGMA uses a holistic approach to address issues faced by vulnerable sectors such as access to health care facilities, clean environment conditions and social protection systems. Specific strategies range from filing complaints with government agencies for redress or providing information about law enforcement measures for labor exploitation cases.

In the past few years we have been able to protect thousands of workers from unfair treatment by organizing campaigns with various stakeholders such as local governments, civil society organizations and business leaders. We have also facilitated rent-free lease agreements between small landholders owners and tenants in Laguna province which has allowed previously disadvantaged communities access to sufficient housing units at an affordable rate.

Your help can come in many forms! You can donate funds online or volunteer your time by signing up for our youth mobilization efforts or working alongside us on specific advocacy campaigns. You can also spread awareness about our work through social media or participate in upcoming events organized by us or our partners!

Absolutely! You can also provide material aid with donations like used clothes or even emergency food packs which we regularly distribute among affected communities around Metro Manila. Your expertise can also be tapped if you are an expert in a certain field that requires knowledge sharing i.e public speaking skills or legal advice.

Yes indeed! We were honored with several prestigious recognitions including the United Nations Human Rights Special Recognition Award 2019-2020 given in acknowledgment of outstanding efforts towards ensuring human rights protection at national level in the Philippines.