The Department of Labor and Employment Bureau of Labor and Employment (DOLE-BLR) in cooperation with the ILO CO Manila and European Union organized a Triparte Project Launch on the EU GSP+ project on Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining on 13 September 2017, at the Bayleaf Hotel Intramuros Manila Philippines. Tripartite social partners comprising representatives from Philippine government agencies, trade unions and employers signed a Tripartite Manifesto of Commitment to promote and protect workers' rights in line with freedom of association and collective bargaining principles and undertake a National Action Plan to address violations of workers' civil liberties and trade union rights.

More than 100 participants joined the one-day project launch event and Manifesto signing. A workshop to validate the proposed outcomes/objectives of the draft national action plan and formulate specific activities for the next two years of the project. Opening the event were DOLE Undersecretary of Labour Relations, Joel Maglunsod; ILO CO Manila Director, Khalid Hassan; and EU Trade Section Head, Walter van Hattum. Among the participants from the government side were representatives from the Departments of Justice, Budget and Management, Labor and Employment, and National Defense; from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Armed Forces of the Philippines Human Rights Office, Philippine National Police Human Rights Affairs Office, Commission on Human Rights, Commission on Audit, Civil Service Commission; representatives from the Senate and House Committees on Labor and Employment, Justice and Human Rights; and representatives from Supreme Court of the Philippines and Court of Appeals. Representatives of more than 30 labour federations from different labour centers and six employers organizations also joined the event.