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Philippines applying to join CPTPP this year

REUTERS

THE PHILIPPINES is set to submit its formal application to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a trade official said.

“The first step is to file your formal application … So, this year we intend to submit our application to accede,” Trade Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty told reporters this week.

“As part of the process, informally you have to engage with CPTPP parties … We are doing that right now; we actually met a lot of them,” he added.

He said that the Philippines has been expressing its interest in joining the CPTPP even when it was still called the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement.

The TPP was signed by Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, and the US. However, the US withdrew its membership in 2017.

The free trade agreement (FTA) later evolved into the CPTPP, and in July 2023, the remaining signatories signed an accession protocol with the United Kingdom (UK).

He said that the DTI has conducted an evaluation and assessment of the FTA and has commissioned a study on the advantages and benefits of joining the CPTPP.

“There are two things: market access and rules. Now in terms of market access, of course the value add would be market access to Mexico, Canada, Peru, Chile, and now of course the UK,” he said.

“Actually, with the entry of the UK, it gave us more reason to join CPTPP because the UK is one of our biggest trading partners,” he added.

On rules, he said that the standards of the CPTPP are higher, making foreign investors who are very particular on certain rules welcome the country’s accession.

Meanwhile, Mr. Gepty said that the Philippines and Chile will be holding their first in-person round of negotiations in July.

“But in May, we have to meet virtually to at least start the talks … because our schedule is tight. It is already May, and in June we have the negotiations with the European Union,” he said.

“And then we have a joint economic commission (JEC) with Canada on June 6,” he added, noting that the JEC will also cover exploratory talks for an FTA.

In a statement, the Tariff Commission said it will be holding a public consultation regarding participation in the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement negotiations.

The consultation is scheduled for May 7. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

PEZA eyes second pharma ecozone

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is looking to proclaim a second pharmaceutical economic zone (pharma zone) within the year.

“Some people are vying from other areas. But obviously they would want to see the performance of this park first,” PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga told BusinessWorld on the sidelines of the official launch of the Victoria Industrial Park late Wednesday.

“But there is one in Tarlac, the one under Lloyd Laboratories. That might be our second pharma zone in the country because the compliance for its proclamation requirements is already ongoing,” he added.

He said that the second pharma zone is targeted for proclamation within the year, as it already has an American partner.

“They will be manufacturing APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients) and drugs. As you know, Lloyd Laboratories is already in India,” he added.

On Wednesday, the country’s first pharma zone, the Victoria Industrial Park, was officially launched.

“This move is in response to the marching orders of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to make medicine more accessible and affordable, to empower Filipino manufacturers, to be self-sufficient, and to be the hub in ASEAN for the pharmaceutical industry, thus strengthening our own local supply chain,” Mr. Panga said.

The 30-hectare park in Victoria, Tarlac is poised “to become a dynamic hub for investment, innovation, medical research, and inclusive progress.”

“We are likewise pleased to highlight that the construction of a satellite laboratory of the Food and Drug Administration has commenced on-site, which will further strengthen our supply chain and advance our healthcare and industrial capabilities,” he added.

He said the FDA laboratory will help in streamline companies’ compliance with FDA-related permits and requirements.

During the event, 13 memoranda of agreement and understanding were signed, reflecting growing interest from investors to locate in pharma zones.

These include agreements with Lifestrong Marketing, Inc., ACP Heavy Industries, Greenstone Pharmaceutical, Goodfield, Ethosperic, Inc., Solstice ECOventures, Inc., Triumphus Ventures, Inc., Medinext, Inc., Revitalix, Inc., Kweens Ventures, Inc., K Food, Verdant Dreams Hong Kong, and Creative Ecohub for Philippine Artistry.

Meanwhile, he said that PEZA is also in talks with Japanese and Chinese-American companies to locate in Victoria Industrial Park.

“We have an incoming big-ticket American investment into nitrile gloves … They will scout around, but we will nominate Victoria Industrial Park,” he added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

PPP Center calls for more smart city projects

FREEPIK

THE Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center said more smart city projects are needed, citing the need to incorporate advanced technology in key infrastructure projects.

“There is a need for us to develop more digital infrastructure, smart city projects,” PPP Center Director for project development service Raphael M. Badillo said in an online briefing.

Smart City projects refer to the efficient management of infrastructure and public services like mobility, water, and energy.

The PPP Center website lists 18 information and communications technology projects valued at a combined P35.87 billion. The projects are currently in the pipeline or being implemented, the PPP Center said.

“Private sector expertise and efficiencies play a vital role in enabling smart city development since these smart cities heavily depend on technology and innovation,” Mr. Badillo said.

Projects include the P2.10-billion Bacolod Super City Project which was awarded to Highdata Infra Corp.

This project involves a centralized command center for traffic monitoring, natural disasters, criminal activity, emergency response and public alerts. The Bacolod Super City project also includes the installation of video surveillance equipment, deployment of analytics, and the development of comprehensive geographic information system software for the creation of maps, spatial analysis and data integration.

The smart city PPP projects also include the P3.29-billion smart urban mobility proposal of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) which is currently being negotiated.

MPTC’s unsolicited proposal for Baguio City involves the financing, design, procurement, construction, and installation of urban mobility solutions, including a congestion fee scheme; traffic enforcement system; parking management system and smart command center.

“The private sector can finance these critical infrastructure development projects to enable this smart city development. We encourage companies expressing interest in pursuing more digital infrastructure because a lot of local government units definitely need these innovations and technological advancements,” Mr. Badillo said. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Subsidized P20-per-kilo rice rolled out in Cebu

PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) launched its P20-per-kilo subsidized rice program in Cebu City on Thursday.

“Today, Labor Day, we fulfill a promise made three years ago by President Marcos to the Filipino people: to bring down the price of rice to P20 per kilo,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said.

Accompanying the launch, Food Terminal, Inc. and Cebu province signed a memorandum of agreement on the shared subsidy of the P20-per-kilo rice pilot test in the province.

Expected to run until December, the pilot test will cover other parts of the Visayas, benefiting 800,000 households or about 4 million people.

“President Marcos has directed the DA to draw up plans to extend this food program until 2028 and expand it nationwide to cover as many financially challenged Filipinos as possible,” DA said.

Meanwhile, local government units in Cebu have started drawing stocks from the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse. Between April 29 and May 1, they withdrew 3,700 50-kilo bags of rice.

“NFA continues to reposition stocks from rice-producing areas in the Visayas and from Mindoro to areas like Cebu that have little rice output,” DA said.

The subsidized rice sales are being billed as part of the KnP20 program (Katuparan ng Pangakong P20 na Bigas).

Under the law, the NFA is not permitted to sell rice directly to the general public, but KnP20 makes it available to targeted beneficiaries. Each qualified household, typically from the more vulnerable segments of society, may purchase up to 30 kilos a month, the DA said.

Initially the DA planned to roll out the program in 16 locations across Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, the DA said it is currently awaiting clarification from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on whether the program is exempt from the May 2–12 ban on the distribution of government aid during the election period.

“If Comelec disallows rice distribution during the restricted period, the DA plans to start selling the subsidized rates in earnest right after the midterm elections,” it added.

Mr. Laurel said he hopes Comelec will grant an exemption as the program can alleviate financial pressure on low-income families while also helping decongest NFA warehouses. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Gov’t cash utilization rate hits 99% in first quarter

BW FILE PHOTO

THE cash utilization rate of government agencies hit 99% at the end of March, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said.

The DBM reported that the National Government, local governments, and state-owned companies used P1.12 trillion of the P1.13 trillion worth of notices of cash allocation (NCAs) issued as of the end of the first quarter.

This left P8.57 billion in unused allocations.

The budget utilization rate was on pace with the 99% rate posted a year earlier.

NCAs are a quarterly disbursement authority that the DBM issues to agencies, allowing them to withdraw funds from the Treasury to support their spending needs.

At the end of the first quarter, line departments used P797.38 billion or 99% of their allotments, leaving P7.23 billion unused.

Seventeen agencies posted a 100% budget usage rate in the three months to March including the Office of the Vice-President, State Universities and Colleges, and the departments of Education, Foreign Affairs, Health, Interior and Local Government, Labor and Employment, Migrant Workers, Social Welfare and Development and Tourism.

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, previously known as the National Economic and Development Authority, also posted a 100% budget usage rate.

Also turning in a 100% utilization rate were the Commissions on Human Rights, Elections, Audit, Civil Service, Civil Service, as well as the Judiciary and Office of the Ombudsman. 

The departments of Human Settlements and Urban Development as well as of Agriculture posted the lowest usage rate of 78% and 85%, respectively.

Budgetary support to government-owned companies and allotments to local government units had a 100% utilization rate.

In the first quarter, government spending jumped 22.43% to P1.477 trillion. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Government urged to protect workers under threat from US tariffs

REUTERS

THE Makati Business Club (MBC) said on Thursday that the government should move to ensure the protection of jobs that could be vulnerable in the face of disruptions from US tariffs and other policies.

The MBC said the 17% tariff charged on Philippine goods will likely affect skilled workers in export industries, particularly in electronics.

“Other recent policies of the US government may also impact the jobs of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs); hence, the government must also look into ensuring that skills training and jobs may be provided for them during these uncertain times,” it added.

Early last month, the US imposed tariffs on most of its trading partners, with Philippine goods being charged 17%, the second lowest in Southeast Asia after Singapore’s 10%.

Prior to this, US President Donald J. Trump also signed immigration-related executive orders to strengthen US border policy, tighten visa screening, and deter illegal immigration, possibly posing a threat to the jobs of US-based Filipinos.

The MBC said workers also face challenges concerning the increasing growth of artificial intelligence (AI) adaptation.

Citing a report by the International Monetary Fund, the MBC said around 14% of jobs in the Philippines are at risk of being replaced by AI, while 50% are jobs that AI can assist but not entirely replace. 

Meanwhile, a 2024 study by the Philippine Institute of Development Studies noted that around 29% of Filipino workers lack the necessary skills for in-demand jobs.

The MBC called on the government to ensure that Filipino workers are not left behind.

The MBC noted that action on reskilling and upskilling received a boost from the Enterprise-Based Education and Training Framework Act.

“However, the government needs to continue its efforts in ensuring that no Filipino worker gets left behind in the increasing growth of AI adaptation,” it added.

The MBC also called for the passage of the Lifelong Learning Development Framework Act.

“We believe this reform will contribute to creating a more skilled and competitive Filipino workforce,” it added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Elevated reserve market prices seen signaling strong system demand

NGCP.PH

THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said prices on the reserve market remain high, pointing to strong demand for power required by the system.

In a statement late Wednesday, the ERC said the average price on the reserve market on April 14-20 was P5.45 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in Luzon, P12.859 per kWh in the Visayas, and P14.763 per kWh in Mindanao.

These were higher than the prices in the previous week and in the same period in March, according to prices reported by the Philippine Electricity Market Corp.

The system operator buys reserve power to ensure the proper operation of the energy grid.

ERC Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Monalisa C. Dimalanta said that the prices on the reserve market are driven by the offers of plants that provide ancillary services to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

“So, high reserve market prices signal high demand by NGCP for those services,” Ms. Dimalanta said via Viber.

Rates for ancillary services, which are passed on to the consumers, are composed of the price at which those services were obtained by NGCP from the market, and those set in contracts for ancillary services, she said.

Ms. Dimalanta said that the contracted ancillary services have much lower rates because these are regulated and approved by ERC.

She said that almost all of the 36 ancillary service procurement agreements (ASPAs) approved by the NGCP are in effect under provisional authority.

The ERC has completed the deliberations and set final rates for most of these contacts, with only eight awaiting final approval, she said.

“We will issue the final decisions for these ASPAs soon to close out the rates and NGCP can then contract for more ASPAs,” Ms. Dimalanta said.

An ASPA is a contract between the NGCP and a power plant operator to supply ancillary services, which are crucial for maintaining the reliability and stability of the power grid. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Korean Joo takes Tour crown after harrowing Baguio stage

JOO DAE YOUNG — FACEBOOK.COM/TOUROFLUZONCYCLING

BAGUIO — In the much-awaited return of the fabled summer cycling spectacle that fittingly had everything including an epic ending, South Korean Joo Dae Young summoned his last will and remaining strength to rule the MPTC Tour of Luzon: Great Revival.

Valiantly doing just enough in the 177.54-km eighth and final stage that started in Lingayen and ended here in Camp John Jay on Thursday, the 27-year-old two-time Korean national champion capped his triumph against time, elements and a worthy local challenge in snaring the crown in the 1,074-km, eight-stage race.

The Gapyeong Cycling Team skipper did just enough in the killer Baguio ascent where he finished 22nd in the lap won by an unheralded Joshua Pascual of Excellent Noodles in four hours, 16 minutes and four seconds, or 5.17 minutes faster than the former.

Mr. Joo had to battle a busted rear tire at the foot of the mountains of Benguet where he saw his 2.10-minute lead vanish in thin air to eager beaver Mervin Corpuz of Metro Pacific Tollways Drivehub, who rode hard in seizing the provisional lead in the first 150-km stretch.

But Mr. Joo fought back and raced like the wind while Mr. Corpuz had nothing left in the tank in the ascent and faded.

The Korean then fended off a last-gasp attempt by Standard Insurance and former many-time Ronda Pilipinas champion Jan Paul Morales to steal the crown by finishing second in the stage.

Mr. Joo emerged No. 1 with an aggregate time of 22:21:08, or just six seconds ahead of the battle-scarred 39-year-old Navy man from Calumpang, Marikina, who settled for the second in 22:21:14.

It was one of the closest races in Tour history and for Mr. Joo, who was left with just one active teammate in this stage after the rest fell one after another, he just didn’t give up.

“I didn’t think of the yellow jersey, I just keep going,” said an ecstatic Mr. Joo, who gamely signed autographs and posed for photos for fans at the finish line.

For this feat, Mr. Joo pocketed P1 million, half of which came straight from the pockets of MVP Group of Companies chairman Manny V. Pangilinan.

Asked about the possibility of returning and defending his title next year, Mr. Joo could only shake his head at the thought of climbing Baguio again.

“I don’t want (to return) Baguio one more time,” he said with a smile.

For Mr. Morales, who was nursing bruises and hurt ribs he sustained during a Stage One crash in Paoay, Ilcoos Norte, it meant he isn’t hanging up his bike just yet.

“I said if I won here, I would retire. I’m just second so I’ll return,” said Mr. Morales, who settled for a runner-up purse worth P500,000.

Jonel Carcueva of MPTD had a third place finish in Baguio to leap frog from sixth before the final lap to a third place effort overall in 22:22:00 that earned the Cebu native P350,000.

Rounding out the top 10 were Victoria Sports’ Nichol Pareja (22:22:02), Standard’s Jeremy Lizardo (22:23:40), 7-Eleven’s Rench Michael Bondoc (22:24:15), Go for Gold’s James Paul Ryan Escumbien (22:24:42) and Jay Jericho Lucero (22:24:50), Standard’s Ronald Oranza (22:24:52) and MPTD’s Rustom Lim (22:25:05).

While Mr. Joo basked in triumph, Mr. Corpuz could only grimace in disappointment as he came close to accomplishing what his uncle, Santy Barnachea, achieved in the past — win a Tour crown — as he wound up 21st overall after occupying second after Stage Seven.

It just wasn’t meant to be.

But if there’s any consolation, Mr. Corpuz’ would get an equal share of from MPTD, which sideswiped Standard Insurance from the top to snatch the team crown and the P1-million purse that went with it.

MPTD clocked 88:22:02 as against Standard’s 88:22:13. — Joey Villar

TNT seeks first win vs Phoenix after 0-2 start

TNT TROPANG 5G — FACEBOOK.COM/TNTTROPANG5G

Games on Friday
(Ynares Center Montalban)
5 P.M. – NLEX vs. Blackwater
7:30 P.M. – Phoenix VS TNT

A SLOW start like its 0-2 showing early in the PBA Philippine Cup isn’t exactly unfamiliar territory for TNT.

Just last conference, the Tropang 5G, then carrying the Tropang Giga moniker, stumbled in their first two games as well. But warriors that they are, they turned things around and ultimately annexed the Commissioner’s Cup title to follow up their triumph in the Governors’ Cup.

Now, the troops of coach Chot Reyes look to replicate this U-turn and pump life into their aspirations for the third jewel in a season grand slam.

And the Tropang 5G aim to start the resurgence tonight when they face Phoenix (1-3) in the league’s maiden gig at the new Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal.

“Sana ganun din ‘yung resulta,” TNT ace RR Pogoy said.

To make this happen, though, the Tropang 5G need to urgently find ways to produce the numbers and channel the competitive nature of do-it-all import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who’s not around in this all-Filipino campaign.

“Honestly, galing kami sa dalawang conferences na nandoon si Rondae so talagang nag-aadjust din kami,” Mr. Pogoy said.

“Lalo na sa depensa, talagang nandoon kaagad si Rondae sa ilalim. Saka lahat ng rebound kinukuha ni Rondae, di ba? So talagang nag-aadjust din kami.”

Mr. Pogoy, though, sees a good sign heading into the 7:30 p.m. tiff, noting their improving performance in the 100-94 loss to Converge compared to their play in the 91-74 opening defeat to NLEX.

“Ang sama ng start namin. Hindi namin makuha ‘yung laro namin. Pero buti naman nung second half, doon medyo maganda-ganda,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Road Warriors (2-1) eye a share of second spot with idle San Miguel (3-1) as they lock horns with Blackwater (1-2) in the 5 p.m. curtain raiser.

NLEX is driven to make it three straight but the Bossing are bent on going back-to-back after their conference breakthrough at the expense of NorthPort, 120-98. — Olmin Leyba

NU women still team to beat as volleyball Final Four unfolds

ALL EYES are still on the mighty National University (NU) after the Final Four cast in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball became clear days before an expected slugfest this weekend at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Gunning for a repeat, top-seeded NU as early as last week drew No. 4 Far Eastern University (FEU) while La Salle secured the No. 2 seed and the other win-once bonus against the third-ranked Santo Tomas after their thrilling playoff Wednesday night.

It’s the same cast as last year only with a tweak in rankings of La Salle and Santo Tomas as NU remains the undisputed team to slay, the squad to be measured against and the biggest hurdle for the three other teams on the Philippine collegiate scene’s Mt. Rushmore.

But that doesn’t mean the Lady Bulldogs, unbothered on top, will rest on their laurels.

“Hindi kami nasa-satisfy kung anong naging performance namin,” two-time MVP Bella Belen said as NU topped the two-round eliminations with a 12-2 slate.

NU, armed with a twice-to-beat incentive, bowed to FEU in Game 1 but still took care of business in the next game that snowballed to a sweep over Santo Tomas in the finale.

That’s the second title for the Lady Bulldogs in the last three seasons — and now they have their sights on the third. Ms. Belen, too, seeks a third MVP title to further solidify her UAAP legend.

Even if that means going through the FEU juggernaut again before another all-out battle against either La Salle or Santo Tomas from the other pairing.

Interestingly, NU swept all of those squads this season with its two losses coming against University of the Philippines and Adamson.

“Mas gutom kami ngayon. Kailangan kada game, nagi-improve kami, kahit kaunti. Kung kaya pa naman na may maipakitang bago at mas itaas pa ‘yung laro namin,” Ms. Belen vowed. — John Bryan Ulanday

Giannis at the crossroads

Giannis Antetokounmpo was more reflective than bitter in the aftermath of the Bucks’ elimination from the 2025 National Basketball Association Playoffs. For the third straight season, they found themselves bowing out in the first round, not quite the streak they sought to preserve after claiming the championship in 2021.

And yet, for all the relative failures of the green and cream, he refused to enunciate his thoughts on the possibility of jumping ship in order to make the most of his peak years. At 30 and fresh from posting his most complete numbers since bringing home back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards at the turn of the decade, he is widely considered to be better situated elsewhere.

Antetokounmpo was right in fending off members of the media in his post-mortem, of course. It served no purpose for him to feed into speculation on where he would be winding up, and not simply because he is signed with the Bucks until 2028. The wounds from the one-four series loss to the Pacers were still fresh, made even more painful by their shocking capacity to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory the other day. And so he ever so calmly noted that “I’m not going to do this” — meaning fan the rumors by speaking out of turn. “I know how it’s going to translate.”

If anything, Antetokounmpo actually gave Bucks fans cause for optimism by arguing that, “as a team, we work hard. We play the right way. Not being able to win games definitely hurts, but you’ve got to keep doing what you’re doing.” He added that he wanted to win Game Five for fellow All-Star Damian Lillard, who suffered a torn left Achilles tendon in Game Four after seemingly truncating his convalescence from deep

vein thrombosis. “I felt like he came back maybe earlier than he’s supposed to, went down, sacrificed his body for us. I felt like, as a team, the least we can do is show up and win the game. For Dame. Obviously it hurts that we didn’t win the game, but it hurts more that we weren’t able to win the game for Dame.”

That the Bucks came close to prevailing both in regulation and in overtime, only to be done in by miscues and, perhaps, sheer bad luck, clearly gnawed at Antetokounmpo. That said, he knew well enough to table for another day any contemplation beyond merely getting over the setback. The discussion is coming, to be sure, and those around him would do well to make sure that when it happens, answers can and will be provided. Time and again, he has expressed a keen desire to be surrounded by the right personnel to compete for the hardware. And, time and again, he has been rebuffed by fate. Which begs the question: How long he can stay patient? Only he knows.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

DoLE issues new guidelines for construction workers’ safety and welfare

photo by Almira Louise S. Martinez, BusinessWorld

by Almira Louise S. Martinez, Reporter

The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) on Monday issued the revised implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 11058, or the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Standards Law, to improve the safety and welfare of construction workers at work.  

Out of the 216 work-related accidents reported last year, the department said a significant number of cases occurred in construction sites. 

“Construction workers are not just at risk from the heat and rain, but also from the lack of safety equipment,” Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma told BusinessWorld in Filipino. 

The updated IRR orders that the standard designs and specifications for the temporary housing facilities must have water stations, sanitary toilets, bathing areas, laundry spaces, kitchen and dining facilities, healthcare stations, communication hubs, recreational spaces, and designated smoking areas. 

“We’re aligning our policies with what’s happening in workplaces,” DOLE Undersecretary Benjo Santos M. Benavide said in Filipino during a press conference.  

“Pag nirereview mo ang mga patakaran, binabatay mo sa kung ano yung mga naging karanasan [When you review policies, you base it to actual experiences (of workers)],” Mr. Laguesma said.  

“You won’t let policies stay stagnant if you can see that it doesn’t maximize all the possible benefits it could get once changed,” he added.  

With the new guidelines, the department hopes to achieve “zero accidents” across all industries.  

“Lagi nating ipinapaalala na ang pagkakaloob ng ganyang klase ng protective equipment ay hindi gastusin lamang [We always remind (the employers) that protective equipments is not just expenses],” the Labor Secretary said. “It’s an investment for the health and safety of our workers.” 

 

Implementation of “heat leaves”  

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), several areas across the country could experience the ‘danger’ heat index level category, which ranges from 42 to 51 degrees Celsius. 

Due to the extreme heat, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) calls upon additional protective measures, such as including “heat leaves” under the emergency leave provisions. 

A ‘critical’ gap must be addressed in the leave benefits covering heat waves, according to FFW President Jose Sonny G. Matula. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Laguesma noted that “heat leaves” may fall under the many currently existing leaves. He added that the recent labor advisory on the health and safety of workers is also related to the weather disturbances experienced by workers.  

“While we welcome all sorts of leaves that can alleviate the plight of the workers, we also have to balance it with the concerns of employers,” he said. 

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