THE 17,000-strong Metro Manila police was placed on full alert yesterday in preparation for mass actions scheduled today, Labor Day.

The rest of the PNP will go on "heightened alert" status starting at 8 a.m. today.

Some 3,000 civil disturbance management units, including augmentation troops from the Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog police offices and the AFP-National Capital Region Command, will be deployed in Metro Manila to ensure orderly conduct of the mass actions.

The militant Kilusang Mayo Uno said there would be some 25,000 workers marching to Mendiola today.

"Pangunahing isyu ang kawalan katarungan sa sahod, trabaho at karapatan," said KMU national chair Elmer Labog.

KMU is pushing for a P125 across the board increase.

Its members yesterday staged a noise barrage at the Welcome rotunda in Quezon City.

KMU said protest participants are converging at several points before marching to Mendiola. These are the UST, Plaza Miranda, Moriones, Quirino-Taft and Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Rafael Mariano, president of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, said the theme of Labor Day protests this year is "Korupsyon, pambubusabos at pandarahas ay dapat wakasan!"

"Patalsikin ang rehimeng US-GMA at sulong para sa pambansang kalayaan at demokrasya," he added.

Leody de Guzman, president of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, called for wage increases and price controls on rice and other foodstuffs, and a stop to contractualization of workers.

"Ito ay bahagi ng sentral na panawagang labanan ang kagutuman, kahirapan at katiwalian. Patalsikin si Gloria at magtayo ng democratic transition council," De Guzman said.

The Alyansa ng Maralitang Pilipino (AMP) led the Southern Tagalog contingent of protesters through the caravan "Lakbayan Kontra Kagutuman at Kahirapan, Martsa para sa Murang Bigas at Dagdag Sweldo" from San Pedro, Laguna to Makati.

AMP and the Partido ng Manggawa mobilized at least 500 workers at the boundary of Las Piñas and Bacoor.

Another 500 workers from Metro Manila and Central Luzon met the Southern Tagalog contingent at the Baclaran church around noon and then marched to the Holy Trinity Church in Balic-Balic, Sampaloc after making stopovers at the Intramuros office of the DOLE for a short picket, at Plaza Sta. Cruz for a short program and the stretch of España for a torch parade and noise barrage.