Sonny Matula stresses primacy of humans over the economy at tripartite dialogue

August 27, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

Labor lawyer Sonny Matula underscored the importance of prioritizing humans over the economic system as he spoke at the recent National Tripartite Dialogue on Responsible Business Conduct, Sustainable Investment and Trade for Decent Work.

Matula said that decades after the International Labour Organization adopted the Declaration of Philadelphia, the principle that labor is not a commodity remains the same.

Matula said people should take priority over an economic system focused only on finance, production or profit.

“The economy must serve the human person. The human person must never become merely an instrument of the economy,” he said in a post on X.

Speaking at National Tripartite Dialogue on Responsible Business Conduct, Sustainable Investment and Trade for Decent Work
25–26 August 2026 | Makati Diamond Residences, Makati City

In 1944, while the world was still at war, the ILO adopted the Declaration of Philadelphia and… pic.twitter.com/Oe5Uy3xvZ8

— Atty. Sonny Matula (@AttyMatula) August 25, 2026