MANILA – On September 4, 2023, a significant moment in the realm of labor justice unfolded as Presiding Commissioner Grace E. Maniquiz-Tan of the National Labor Relations Commission’s 5^thDivision formally assumed the position of Chairperson.  The auspicious occasion took place as she took her oath of office before the honorable Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma.

Chairperson Tan’s appointment was officially announced on August 31, 2023, just on the cusp of her birth month, adding an extra layer of significance to her new role.  Her journey in the public service sector has been marked by notable tenures in various government offices alongside distinguished individuals.

Commencing her career under the guidance of the late Supreme Court Justice Isagani A. Cruz from 1988 to 1994, she subsequently joined the Presidential Commission Against Graft and Corruption from 1994 to 1995.  Her dedication and competence led to her appointment as Director IV for the Office of the President from 1995 to 1999.  Later, she held the position of Labor Arbiter from 1999 to 2013 and was detailed to the Office of then DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz and the Office of the Administrator of the POEA.

Before assuming the Chairperson role at the NLRC, Chairperson Tan served as the Presiding Commissioner of the Fifth Division of the NLRC starting in 2013.

The oath-taking ceremony was graced by top officials of DOLE, including Undersecretaries Benedicto Ernesto R. Bitonio Jr., Benjo Santos M. Benavidez, Felipe N. Egargo Jr., and Assistant Secretary Dominique Rubia-Tutay.  In addition, NLRC Officials, Presiding Commissioners Julia Cecily Coching-Sosito, Victor C. Avecilla, Grace M. Venus, Joseph Gerard E. Mabilog, and Elbert C. Restauro, along with several Commissioners and NLRC employees, attended the event to extend their support and best wishes to the new Chairperson.

During the ceremony, Secretary Laguesma expressed his anticipation of continued collaboration with Chairperson Tan and the NLRC to enhance the institution’s reputation and its service delivery to the public.  He emphasized that the NLRC is an integral part of the DOLE family.

Chairperson Tan, with a profound commitment to delivering labor justice, used the occasion to assure all attendees of her unwavering dedication to upholding the rule of law.  She pledged to maintain the accountability and integrity of the NLRC and its employees throughout her administration.  This significant event signifies a promising chapter in the pursuit of labor justice under Chairperson Tan’s leadership. END