Philippine jobless, underemployment rates jump in July

September 8, 2023 | 3:41 pm

for-jobless — The country’s unemployment rate rose to 4.8% in July, from 4.5% in June. -- Photo by Edd Gumban, The Philippine Star

By Bernadette Therese M. Gadon, Researcher

The unemployment rate in the Philippines inched up to 4.8% in July, bringing the number of jobless Filipinos to 2.27 million, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Friday.

The underemployment rate, on the other hand, rose to a 20-month high as slower economic activity led to more job losses.

Preliminary results of the April Labor Force Survey (LFS) showed the unemployment rate rose to 4.8% in July from 4.5% in June. Year on year, this was lower compared to 5.2% in July 2022.

At 4.8%, this was the highest unemployment rate since 5% in September 2022, and matched the unemployment rate in January and February this year.

Despite the higher rate, the absolute number of jobless Filipinos in July was lower than the 2.33 million in June and 2.6 million in the same month last year, as the labor force shrank.

Year to date, the unemployment averaged 4.6%, lower than the 5.4% average a year ago.

PSA data also showed job quality deteriorated as the underemployment rate went up to 15.9% in July from 12% in June and 13.8% in July last year.

This is equivalent to 7.10 million underemployed Filipinos in July, higher than the 5.88 million in June and the 6.54 million recorded a year ago.

The 15.9% underemployment rate is the highest in 20 months or since the 16.6% in November 2021, PSA Undersecretary and National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said during the press conference.

“Invisible underemployment rose, which means more Filipinos are working 40 hours or more already, but they want to work more hours for additional income, or they want another job with higher pay,” he added.

Meanwhile, the employment rate dropped to 95.2% in July from 95.5% in the previous month, but higher than the 94.8% in the same month a year ago.

In absolute figures, 44.63 million Filipinos had jobs in July, down from the 48.84 million in the previous month. However, this is higher than the 47.39 million employed persons in July last year.

PSA data also showed the labor force size decreased by 4.27 million to 46.90 million in July from 51.17 million in June.

This put the country’s labor force participation rate (LFPR) at 60.1%, lower than the 66.1% and 65.2% in June and July 2021, respectively.

Analysts said the uptick in the jobless rate can be attributed to slower economic activity.

In an e-mail, ING Bank N.V. Manila senior economist Nicholas Antonio T. Mapa said that it was not surprising to see employment figures slip as high interest rates continue to dampen economic activity.

“A portion of the household may have left the labor force to accompany the kids back home. Supporting this is the fact that saw a steep decrease in those who are self-employed or who are unpaid family workers, jobs that are mostly associated with the informal sector,” HSBC economist for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Aris Dacanay said

Average hours worked in a week rose to 42.3 hours in July from 40 hours in June, and 40.5 hours from a year ago.

The services sector remained the largest employer with 59.4% share, followed by agriculture with 21.5% and industry with 19%.

On a monthly basis, job losses were highest in the following industries: agriculture and forestry (8.14 million in July from 10.45 million in June), wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (8.68 million from 10.08 million), and public administration and defense, compulsory social security (2.63 million from 2.99 million).

“The entire government remains committed to improving the business climate in the country to attract more investments, which will lead to the creation of high-quality and high-paying jobs,” said National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan in a statement.

However, Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) Secretary-General Josua T. Mata said in a Viber message that elevated inflation may hinder job creation for the rest of the year.

“It will be more challenging to increase employment in the next months because of inflationary pressures. What the government can do is to maintain a strong stance on fiscal policy, make it more aggressive, if possible,” he said.

Mr. Mata said the government should introduce a robust public employment program that would directly generate jobs, like climate jobs.

“Climate jobs are those that would directly lower the carbon emission of the country. Examples are: developing renewable energy including manufacturing solar panels and turbines; coastal and riverine rehabilitation; serious reforestation; etc.,” he said.

HSBC’s Mr. Dacanay said that the government’s commitment to ramp up spending in the second half may improve employment numbers.

“Furthermore, the size of the labor force should increase once schooling begins as household members can return back to work to help make ends meet amid elevated inflation,” he said.

The April LFS was conducted from July 8 to 31, with a total of 170,859 sample households.

Trade deficit shrinks to $4.2 billion in July

September 8, 2023 | 3:33 pm

The Philippines’ trade deficit further shrank in July as exports and imports continued to decline, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.

The PSA on Friday reported that the country’s balance of trade in goods stood at a $4.20-billion deficit in July, 30% lower than the $6-billion gap in July 2022.

However, the July trade gap was wider than the revised $3.94-billion deficit in June.

July saw the widest trade deficit in two months or since the $4.45-billion deficit in May.

The Philippines has incurred a trade deficit for the last eight years or since the trade surplus of $64.95 million in May 2015.

Merchandise exports fell by 1.2% to $6.14 billion in July, ending two straight months of growth. This was a reversal of the revised 0.9% growth in June but still lower than 4.2% decline in July last year.

July’s export level was the lowest in three months or since the $4.90 billion seen in April.

Meanwhile, imports slumped by 15.3% to $10.35 billion in July, slightly faster than the revised 15% decline in June and a reversal of the 22.3% growth in July 2022.

July marked the six straight month of a decline in imports.

For the January to July period, the trade deficit shrank to $32.18 billion from the $35.84-billion gap a year ago.

In the first seven months of the year, exports fell by 8.2% to $41.09 billion, while imports slipped by 9.1% to $73.27 billion.

The Development Budget Coordination Committee’s exports and imports growth assumptions are set at 1% and 2%, respectively, for this year.

Manufactured goods, which accounted for 82.4% of the country’s total export receipts, rose by 1.6% year on year to $5.06 billion in July.

Electronic products, which made up nearly three-fourths of manufactured goods and more than a half of total exports in July, grew by 7.7% to $3.65 billion.

Almost half of total exports came from semiconductors, which jumped by 18.2% to $3.03 billion.

The United States was the main destination of Philippine-made goods in July. Exports to the US stood at $1.04 billion, accounting for 16.9% of the total exports. Exports to Japan reached $862 million, while exports to Hong Kong stood at $798 million.

Meanwhile, orders of raw materials and intermediate goods in July dropped by 21.9% to $3.71 billion, which made up 35.9% of the total July import bill.

In July, imports of capital goods declined by 3.9% to $3.00 billion, while the imports of consumer goods grew by 5.9% to $2.07 billion.

Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials fell by 34.4% year on year to $1.53 billion.

China accounted 25.5% of the total imports in July, with a value of $2.64 billion. It was followed by Japan with $865 million and Indonesia with $810 million.

University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Senior Economist Cid L. Terosa said in an e-mail that trade in July was dampened by several external developments.

“They include the collapse of the Ukraine grain deal when Russia opted out, trade restrictions by China, India, and other major trading countries, unstable and weakening peso and, inflationary pressures that have curtailed production, distribution, and consumption activities around the world,” he said.

Mr. Terosa said it will be challenging for the Philippines to meet the trade growth assumptions since global trade is expected to remain weak.

“Also, downgrades to world economic forecasts by major international agencies point to punishing world market conditions ahead. Geopolitical tensions in Europe and Asia as well as rising petroleum prices can temper the usual upbeat global trade mood towards the end of the year,” he added.

Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis, Jr. said in a telephone interview that geopolitical tensions affected the trade performance.

“Our supply chain was disrupted, there are trade constraints due to what is happening abroad. Some trading such as fuels, raw materials, and even basic consumables like rice are having problems, like a slowdown and some orders are being cancelled,” he said.

“I hope this will get better, otherwise, our projection of 6% to 7% growth at the end of the year might revised, at the most of 6%, or 5% or lower than 5%. August will be more or less the same, we are not sure if it slowdown a little or grow, but I think it will be materially difference” Mr. Ortiz-Luis said.

The Philippine economy expanded by a weaker-than-expected 4.3% in the second quarter, its slowest growth in over two years.

For the first half, gross domestic product (GDP) growth averaged 5.3%. However, GDP must expand by 6.6% in the second half to be able to achieve the government’s 6%-7% full-year target. — Lourdes O. Pilar

North Korea unveils first tactical, nuclear-armed submarine

September 8, 2023 | 3:05 pm

North Korea has launched its first operational “tactical nuclear attack submarine” and assigned it to the fleet that patrols the waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan, state media said on Friday.

Submarine No. 841 – named Hero Kim Kun Ok after a North Korean historical figure – will be one of the main “underwater offensive means of the naval force” of North Korea, leader Kim Jong Un said at the launch ceremony on Wednesday.

Analysts said the vessel appears to be a modified Soviet-era Romeo-class submarine, which North Korea acquired from China in the 1970s and began producing domestically. Its design, with 10 launch tube hatches, showed it was most likely armed with ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, analysts said.

But such weapons won’t add much value to the North‘s more robust land-based nuclear forces, because the aging submarines used as the core of the new design are relatively noisy, slow and have limited range, meaning they may not survive as long during a war, said Vann Van Diepen, a former U.S. government weapons expert who works with the 38 North project in Washington.

“When this thing is field deployed, it’s going to be quite vulnerable to allied anti-submarine warfare,” he said. “So I think from a sort of hard-headed military standpoint this doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

South Korea‘s military said that the submarine didn’t appear ready for normal operations, and that there were signs North Korea was attempting to exaggerate its capabilities.

At the launch ceremony, Kim said arming the navy with nuclear weapons was an urgent task and promised more underwater and surface vessels equipped with tactical nuclear weapons for the naval forces, news agency KCNA reported.

“The submarine-launching ceremony heralded the beginning of a new chapter for bolstering up the naval force of the DPRK,” KCNA said, using the initials of the North‘s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

North Korea plans to turn other existing submarines into nuclear armed vessels, and accelerate its push to eventually build nuclear-powered submarines, Kim said.

“Achieving a rapid development of our naval forces … is a priority that cannot be delayed given … the enemies’ recent aggressive moves and military acts,” the North Korean leader said in a speech, apparently referring to the United States and South Korea.

North Korea‘s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs are banned by United Nations Security Council resolutions, and the submarine launch drew condemnation from South Korea and Japan.

“North Korea‘s military activity is posing graver and more imminent threat to our country’s security than before,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a briefing.

NUCLEAR ATTACK SUBMARINE

The designation as a “tactical“ submarine suggests it does not carry submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) that can reach the U.S. mainland, but rather smaller, short-range SLBMs or submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCM) capable of striking South Korea, Japan, or other regional targets, said Choi Il, a retired South Korean submarine captain.

The rear of the submarine‘s sail – the tower that juts out of the top of the hull – was expanded and 10 vertical launch tubes, 4 large and 6 small, were installed, likely for SLBMs and SLCMs, he said.

North Korea has test-fired both SLBMs and SLCMs.

It is unclear whether North Korea has fully developed the miniaturised nuclear warheads needed for such missiles. Analysts say that perfecting smaller warheads would most likely be a key goal if the North resumes nuclear testing.

North Korea has about 20 Romeo-class submarines, which are powered by diesel-electric engines and are obsolete by modern standards, with most other countries operating them only as training vessels.

Analysts first spotted signs that at least one new submarine was being built in 2016, and in 2019 state media showed Kim inspecting a previously unreported submarine built under “his special attention” that would operate off the east coast.

State media at the time did not describe the submarine‘s weapons systems or say where and when the inspection took place, but analysts said the apparent size of the new vessel indicated it was designed to carry missiles.

North Korea has a large submarine fleet but only the experimental ballistic missile submarine 8.24 Yongung (August 24th Hero) is known to have fired a missile.

The launching ceremony comes as North Korea is set to mark the 75th anniversary of its founding day on Saturday and follows reports that Kim plans to travel to Russia this month to meet President Vladimir Putin to discuss weapons supplies to Moscow.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Jakarta, and asked Beijing to do more as a U.N. Security Council member to address North Korea‘s nuclear threat. – Reuters

Nearly all world’s population exposed to global warming over June-Sept – study

September 8, 2023 | 3:03 pm

sunset-2180346_1920 — STOCK PHOTO | Image by Alexa from Pixabay

SINGAPORE – Nearly all of the world’s population experienced higher temperatures from June to August as a result of human-induced climate change, according to a peer-reviewed research report published late on Thursday.

The northern hemisphere summer of 2023 has been the hottest since records began, with prolonged heatwaves in North America and southern Europe causing catastrophic wildfires and spikes in mortality rates. July was the hottest month ever recorded, while average August temperatures were also 1.5 Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels.

A study by Climate Central, a US-based research group, looked at temperatures in 180 countries and 22 territories and found that 98% of the world’s population were exposed to higher temperatures made at least twice more likely by carbon dioxide pollution.

“Virtually no one on Earth escaped the influence of global warming during the past three months,” said Andrew Pershing, Climate Central’s vice president for science.

“In every country we could analyse, including the southern hemisphere, where this is the coolest time of year, we saw temperatures that would be difficult – and in some cases nearly impossible – without human-caused climate change,” he said.

Climate Central assesses whether heat events are made more likely as a result of climate change by comparing observed temperatures with those generated by models that remove the influence of greenhouse gas emissions.

It said as many as 6.2 billion people experienced at least one day of average temperatures that were at least five times more likely as a result of climate change, the maximum value in Climate Central’s Climate Shift Index.

The heatwaves in North America and southern Europe would have been impossible without climate change, said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment.

“We have looked at isolated heatwaves,” she said. “They have not been made five times more likely. They have been made infinitely more likely because they would not have occurred without climate change.” – Reuters

China coast guard repeats opposition to Philippines’ grounded warship

September 8, 2023 | 2:51 pm

BEIJING (UPDATE) – China’s coast guard said it had warned and followed Philippine vessels on Friday near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea that were carrying out a resupply mission to a grounded warship on the atoll.

Disputes over the grounded World War Two-era warship Sierra Madre have heated up after China sprayed a Philippine vessel with a water cannon on an Aug. 5 resupply mission, with Philippines rejecting Beijing’s repeated calls to tow away the ship.

Two Philippine supply boats and two coast guard ships entered the waters adjacent to the shoal without the permission of the Chinese government, the coast guard said.

The Second Thomas Shoal, known in China as Renai Reef, and Ayungin in Manila, lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and is home to a handful of troops living aboard the warship, grounded there in 1999 to reinforce its sovereignty claim.

China’s coast guard said it issued a stern warning to the Philippine vessels and followed them throughout the journey, repeating China’s “firm” opposition to the Philippines’ transportation of “illegal” construction materials to the grounded warship.

Relations between the two countries froze over the South China Sea under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with Manila pivoting back to the United States, which supports the Southeast Asian nation in its maritime disputes with China.

Reuters had reported that Manila is in talks to develop a civilian port in the remote northernmost islands of the Philippines, which is less than 200 km (125 miles) from Taiwan.

The Southeast Asian nation also upgraded bilateral ties with Australia to a strategic partnership amid rising security challenges, including China’s stronger presence in the South China Sea. — Reuters

DBM releases P3 billion for fuel subsidy program

September 8, 2023 | 2:50 pm

jeepney-vehicles — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Friday said it has approved the release of P3 billion for a fuel subsidy program for public utility drivers and transport operators affected by the recent spike in oil prices.

Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said a one-time fuel subsidy will be given to over 1.36 million workers in the transport sector.

A P10,000 fuel subsidy will be given to operators of modernized public utility jeepney (PUJ) and modernized utility vehicle express (UVE).

Drivers of traditional PUJs and UVEs, public utility buses, minibuses, taxis, transport network vehicle services, tourist and school transport services, and Filcabs will receive a subsidy of P6,500.

Tricycle drivers will receive P1,000 as fuel subsidy, while delivery service riders will get P1,200.

“Transportation is the lifeblood of our economy. We will make sure that they are given the appropriate assistance from the government,” Ms. Pangandaman said in a statement.

The Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) will distribute the subsidies through the identified modes of payment upon instruction of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). — Miguel Hanz L. Antivola

PLDT, Smart back government’s nationwide digitalization push with GoDigital Pilipinas

September 8, 2023 | 2:27 pm

From L-R: Armani Alcayaga, Executive Director - GDP, Director June Vincent Gaudan, DICT, Alexis Bernardino, PLDT Enterprise, Ida Tiongson, WomenBiz and Prulife, Jaypee Soliman, Unionbank, Frankie Antolin, IBPAP, Euan Toralballa, PLDT Enterprise, Vince Rodriguez, PLDT Enterprise, and DICT Regional Dir. Reynaldo Sy.

Leading integrated telco network PLDT Inc. (PLDT) continues to bolster the Government’s digitalization thrust with its support for the GoDigital Pilipinas (GDP) movement.

“This is a testament to the PLDT Group’s continued commitment to help the Government in its initiatives to drive the nation’s digital transformation and ensure that no Filipino is left behind,” said PLDT and Smart First Vice President and Head of Enterprise and International Business Groups Mitch Locsin.

GDP is a movement under the Government-mandated Presidential Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) formed in July 2022, with PLDT and Smart President and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio as one of its founding members under the Digital Infrastructure pillar.

PLDT, its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), its B2B arm PLDT Enterprise and PLDT Home threw their full support behind the launch of GDP’s nationwide caravan, whose North Luzon leg recently kicked off in La Union. PLDT is the official broadband partner of GDP.

During the kickoff events, PLDT and Smart officials also shared their expertise in plenary discussions before an audience composed of local business owners, students, and government representatives, and spoke before students from Don Mariano Marcos State University in a University Talk. PLDT also provided connectivity for a Web3.0 gaming event.

An initiative of the Digital Infrastructure pillar of PSAC, GDP heeds the call of the government to address the risk of a digital divide by promoting digital literacy and building a sustainable digital ecosystem. As part of their nationwide campaign, GDP is set to hold launch activities in Bicol, Cebu, Davao and the Bangsamoro.

“GoDigital Pilipinas Movement is an agile movement composed of several convenor organizations and supporting companies that will drive national digital transformation. GoDigital envisions to be the key enabling partner of government, especially of the local government units,” said Armani Alcayaga, Executive Director and Trustee, GoDigital Pilipinas Movement.

Supporting the Government’s thrust to empower citizens through technology and create a connected and inclusive society are PLDT and Smart’s integrated fixed and wireless networks across the country.

As of end-March 2023, PLDT had expanded its total fiber footprint to over 1.1 million kilometers, consisting of over 231,000 kilometers of international fiber and over 874,000 kilometers of domestic fiber.

This fiber infrastructure also supports Smart’s 3G, 4G/LTE and 5G network, which covers 97 percent of the country’s population as of end-March 2023.

PLDT and Smart’s continued efforts to transform their integrated fixed and wireless networks contribute to the PLDT Group’s endeavors to provide connectivity to all, and to anchor initiatives on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) particularly on SDG No. 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.

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PLDT Enterprise empowers leaders to realize their visions and take their businesses further

September 8, 2023 | 1:54 pm

PLDT Enterprise introduces the Visionary Leaders of its latest Further Together campaign. From left to right: Jacqe Gutierrez, CEO & Co-founder of Happy Skin Cosmetics, BLK Cosmetics, and Seoul White Korea; Judd Balayan, Chief Operating Officer and Group Chief Financial Officer of DDB Group Philippines; Dr. Diana Edralin, General Manager of Roche (Philippines) Inc. and President of Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Association of the Philippines; Sonya Garcia, Owner of Sonya's Garden; and Marivic Del Pilar, President and General Manager of Victory Liner.

Visionary leaders are agents of change, aided by their grit and gift of clearly seeing the road ahead. They are unafraid to stand on the shoulder of giants, to outwork others, and to go further to see their visions become reality.

PLDT Enterprise, the B2B arm of the largest fully integrated telecommunications company in the Philippines PLDT, has found some of these driven visionaries who have translated their aspirations to trailblazing and successful businesses that spurred economic activity, created jobs, and changed lives.

Meet this special ensemble of leaders who found opportunities in the face of tough challenges, focused on the solution and not the problem, and prioritized people and products over profits.

Former banker Sonya Garcia turned a painful chapter in her life to recreate her happy place. She brought to life the vision of her grandmother’s garden Capiz, sustaining the continued growth of the place where she is happiest, in the form of Sonya’s Garden, a sanctuary that pioneered the bed-and-breakfast business in the country.

Dr. Diana Edralin, General Manager of the Philippine operations of pharmaceutical giant Roche (Philippines) Inc. and President of the Pharmaceutical & Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), through her purpose-driven leadership, is guiding her company in leading the transformation of the healthcare ecosystem by ensuring access to innovative solutions that ensure better patient outcomes and improved quality of life. She is a strong advocate of nurturing and mentoring a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce—with the primary goal of not just business success but having a lasting impact on employees’ lives, but also the patients’, and ultimately the society.

Marivic del Pilar, President and General Manager of Victory Liner, one of the biggest bus companies in the country, isn’t afraid to embrace new technology to allow Victory Liner better cope with the challenges posed by the pandemic and improve service to commuters. The mobility restrictions from the pandemic tested Victory Liner’s business model initially, but it has since recovered with her vision to move forward and adapt to digital solutions.

As Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the DBB Group in the Philippines, Judd Balayan helped the country’s first integrated marketing communication and services network navigate the rough waters spawned by the pandemic by prudently managing group finances, winning new accounts, and focusing on staff welfare and health. He believes energizing, engaging, and elevating people focusing on the product is key to success during these challenging times.

The decade that Jacqe Gutierrez, CEO and co-founder of Happy Skin Cosmetics, BLK Cosmetics, and Seoul White Korea, spent with a multinational brand handling beauty products, molded her vision of developing cosmetics with the Filipina in mind. Those years gave her the space to create something real that brings joy to the customers. As an entrepreneur, she believes that local brands can compete in the international market. Like many visionaries, Gutierrez is happiest when she can give back by providing people opportunities to be better.

Even out-of-the-box thinkers who push boundaries need help to realize their vision–a leader like PLDT Enterprise who is highly focused on the task, equipped with a myriad of digital solutions, tested problem-solving prowess, and a deeply ingrained belief that “together, we could move further.”

“Given our digital footprint, our expansive network, the suite of solutions we offer, and our decades long experience, we are proud to say that we are the go-to digital transformation ally for anyone’s business – from the largest enterprises to the humbly thriving,” says Mitch Locsin, PLDT and Smart First Vice President and Head of Enterprise and International Business Groups.

Locsin highlighted that the past efforts of PLDT Enterprise fortify its network infrastructure and technological capabilities to provide the right digital solutions for enterprises weathering market disruptions. The group has and continues to expand its expertise in the technology landscape by securing more certifications in domain services.

“Our focus is always our customers. We firmly believe that together, we can go further together in growing their business and making their visions a reality,” Locsin adds.

Watch PLDT Enterprise’s newest Further Together campaign video here.

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Board approves minimum wage hike for Calabarzon

September 8, 2023 | 12:46 pm

for-wage-hike-160522_laborMural03_kjrosales-(2) — Workers in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon provinces will see their minimum wage increase by P35-P50 starting Sept. 24. -- Photo by KJ Rosales, The Philippine Star

A REGIONAL wage board approved an increase in the daily minimum wages of workers in the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon (Calabarzon) provinces, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said on Thursday.

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Board in Region IV-A (Calabarzon) issued a wage order which provides a 9-11% increase from the current daily minimum wage rates, ranging from P35 to P50 depending on the geographical area and labor sector.

The higher daily minimum wage will take effect in Calabarzon on Sept. 24, the DoLE said.

Around 719,704 minimum wage earners in the region, which is considered a major manufacturing hub, are expected to benefit from the increase.

For non-agriculture workers, the daily minimum wage will increase to P520 for those in the extended metropolitan area, and P479 for those working in component cities and first-class municipalities.

Non-agriculture workers in second- and third-class municipalities will now receive P425 a day, while those in the fourth, fifth and sixth municipalities will get a P385 daily wage.

For agriculture workers, the daily minimum wage will now be P479 for those in the extended metropolitan area and component cities, and P425 for first-class municipalities. The daily wage for agriculture workers in the second- to sixth-class municipalities will increase to P385.

Meanwhile, the daily wage for workers in retail and service establishments with not more than 10 workers will increase to P385 from the current P350.

Agricultural workers in the new cities of Calaca, Batangas, and Carmona, Cavite will receive a P89 increase in their daily minimum pay after being converted from first-class municipalities to cities.

The DoLE said the Calabarzon wage board’s order was submitted to the National Wages and Productivity Commission on Sept. 4 and was affirmed by the body on Sept. 5.

“The (wage) increase… resulted from several petitions filed by various labor groups seeking an increase in the daily minimum wage due to escalating prices of basic goods and commodities,” the DoLE said.

The Labor department said about 1.6 million workers earning above minimum wage may also indirectly benefit from the wage adjustment, as companies will correct the wage distortion.

However, the approved wage hike is significantly lower than the petitions filed by various labor groups.

For instance, the Worker’s Initiative for Wage Increase (Win for Win) in March filed a petition asking the Calabarzon wage board to increase the region’s daily minimum wage to P750 to help workers cope with soaring prices of basic goods.

The group sought wage hikes of P280, P321, P360 and P400 for the four wage classes in Calabarzon.

“The meager increase granted by the wage board in Calabarzon and even in the (National Capital Region) last few months only showed how futile the regional wage fixing mechanisms is in addressing the widening gap between workers’ wages and the cost of living,” Partido Manggagawa Chairman Renato B. Magtubo said in Viber message.

Josua T. Mata, secretary general of Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, said the approved increase is not enough for workers to recover the diminished value of their wages.

“Clearly, it’s not a real wage increase,” he said in a Viber message. “Indeed, the regional wage-setting mechanisms that we have never fails to disappoint the workers.”

Mr. Magtubo called on Congress to fast-track deliberations on legislated wage hike proposals, which he said could help workers deal with the rising prices of basic commodities.

“It is also high time for Congress to take a serious look at the regional minimum wage fixing mechanism, which most labor groups in the country want to be reviewed or abolished,” Mr. Magtubo said.

In March, Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri filed a bill that seeks to increase wages of all workers by P150.

Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma has said he would leave it to Congress to decide on legislated wage hike proposals. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Australia PM says new strategic partnership to strengthen ties with Philippines

September 8, 2023 | 11:37 am

MANILA – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday a new strategic partnership his country will sign with the Philippines will strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.

Albanese spoke during a bilateral meeting with his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who said the Philippines and Australia’s close relationship was “terribly important.”

“The new strategic partnership that we will sign today will strengthen the bilateral ties that we’ve had for 77 years,” Albanese told Marcos.

Albanese’s visit to the Philippines is the first bilateral visit by an Australian leader in 20 years, after a period of renewed tension between the Philippines and China in waters they both claim in the South China Sea.

Albanese threw his support behind a 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea that invalidated China’s expansive claims in the resource-rich waterway.

“Australia supports the 2016 South China Sea arbitral award. That is final and binding. And it is important that it be upheld going forward,” Albanese said. — Reuters

Meralco’s first ever Giga Summit to bring in global experts on nuclear power

September 8, 2023 | 11:18 am

Giga Summit 2023 — Meralco Power Academy is hosting the first ever Giga Summit on Sustainable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Future Grid. Scheduled to take place from September 11 to 13 at The Fifth at Rockwell in Makati City, the 3-day event aims to foster knowledge exchange among industry leaders, policymakers, and experts from across the globe and become a platform for exchanging insights, shaping power and energy trends, and sharing best practices. For more information visit www.meralcopoweracademy.org.

Discussions to focus on sustainable energy, energy management, and smart metering

In the continuing pursuit towards a more resilient and sustainable future, the Meralco Power Academy (MPA) is bringing together over 30 local and international power industry experts in the first ever Giga Summit on Sustainable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Future Grid.

Scheduled to take place from Sept. 11 to 13 at The Fifth at Rockwell in Makati City, Giga Summit aims to foster knowledge exchange among industry leaders, policymakers, and experts from across the globe and become a platform for exchanging insights, shaping power and energy trends, and sharing best practices.

The Sustainable Energy discussions on the first day will revolve around accelerating the transition towards cleaner and more progressive sources of energy that benefit both people and the planet.

This will feature nuclear power experts including Canada-based Filipino nuclear scientist Dr. Francisco “Ike” Dimayuga of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation Executive Vice President Roland Backhaus, University of California, Berkeley Director of International Partnerships for College of Engineering Dr. Matthew P. Sherburne, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Director of Illinois Microreactor R&D Center Dr. Caleb Brooks.

“Giga Summit will serve as an avenue to spark relevant discussions on the role of next generation technologies in our transition towards stable and sustainable energy supply. With the growing interest on nuclear power, our invited experts will shed light on the opportunities and exciting developments in the area of small and micro modular reactors and share experiential learnings that will be relevant as we put forward plans to utilize these technologies,” Meralco Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer and MPA Vice-Chairman Ronnie L. Aperocho said.

Meralco EVP and COO and MPA Vice-Chairman Ronnie L. Aperocho said that the three-day Giga Summit will bring in global nuclear experts who will shed light on opportunities and exciting developments in the area of small and micro modular reactors and share experiential learnings that will be relevant as the Philippines puts forward plans to utilize these technologies.

The second day of the summit will cover Energy Efficiency with sessions that will delve into the various ways to optimize energy consumption; while the third day will tackle Future Grid with discussions on fast-tracking the development and integration of advanced metering infrastructure to meet the growing demand for a smarter and more resilient energy infrastructure.

Also joing the summit are distinguished energy industry experts from both the government and private sector including the Department of Energy, Energy Regulatory Commission, Meralco, ASEAN Centre for Energy, Commonwealth Edison Co., Korea Electric Power Corporation, and Plasma Kinetics, among others.

Interested participants may register at www.meralcopoweracademy.org or by sending an email to gigasummit@meralcopoweracademy.org.

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Mosquito-borne dengue grows deadlier in South Asia as planet warms

September 8, 2023 | 11:10 am

mosquito-49141_1280 — STOCK PHOTO | Image by WikiImages from Pixabay

DHAKA/KATHMANDU (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Mosquito-borne dengue fever is taking a heavy toll on South Asian nations this year as Bangladesh grapples with record deaths and Nepal faces cases in new areas, with disease experts linking worsening outbreaks to the impacts of climate change.

Authorities in the two countries are scrambling to contain and treat the disease – which is also known as “breakbone fever” for the severe muscle and joint pains it induces. Entomologists and epidemiologists say rising temperatures and longer monsoon seasons are providing ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes.

The threat is not restricted to South Asia as dengue rates are rising globally with 4.2 million cases reported in 2022 – up eight-fold from 2000 – the World Health Organization (WHO) says. Earlier this year, WHO said dengue is the fastest-spreading tropical disease worldwide and represents a “pandemic threat”.

In Bangladesh, at least 691 people have died so far in 2023, and more than 138,000 have been infected, official figures show, making this the deadliest year since the first recorded epidemic in 2000. The previous record toll was 281 deaths last year.

A lack of proper prevention measures has allowed the dengue-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquito to spread across almost all of Bangladesh, said Kabirul Bashar, an entomologist and zoology professor at Jahangirnagar University in the capital Dhaka.

He said this raised the risk of more infections occurring during September. Dengue is common during the June-to-September monsoon season, when mosquitoes thrive in stagnant water.

“This climate is favorable for the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes,” Bashar said in an interview. “Dengue is not only a problem for Dhaka, it is now a problem for the entire country.”

NEPAL STRUGGLING WITH ‘STRANGE’ GROWTH OF DENGUE CASES

Meanwhile, Nepal – which first recorded dengue in 2004 – has had at least 13 dengue deaths and more than 21,200 cases so far this year across 75 of its 77 districts, according to officials.

This year could match the 2022 toll of 88 deaths and 54,000 cases, said Uttam Koirala, a senior public health officer at the national epidemiology and disease control division.

Meghnath Dhimal, a senior research officer at the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC), said the incidence and spread of dengue had been rising quickly nationwide in recent years.

Rising temperatures mean cases have started occurring in colder autumn months, while Nepal’s higher mountain districts that never before had the disease are now struggling to curb its spread, he said, describing the shifting patterns as “strange”.

For example, the city of Dharan in the mountainous east has been hit particularly hard this year – with dengue cases rising so fast that hospitals and ambulances are overwhelmed by demand, according to Umesh Mehta, the local health division chief.

The city of more than 160,000 people saw the number of dengue cases peak at 1,700 a day as of late August, he said.

Amrit Kumar Thakur, a Dharan resident, was one of four members of his family to contract dengue last month. The 27-year-old said the disease started with a mild body ache and got steadily worse before he was treated at a temporary health centre set up to deal with the fast-growing number of cases.

“Dengue was the worst health experience of my life,” said Mr. Thakur, adding that he and his relatives had fully recovered.

CLIMATE CHANGE SEEN CREATING IDEAL BREEDING CONDITIONS

WHO says dengue is rising partly because global warming benefits mosquitoes, along with other factors including movement of people and goods, urbanization and problems with sanitation.

In July, WHO said an unusual episodic amount of rainfall in Bangladesh, together with high temperatures and high humidity, had helped the mosquito population to grow across the nation.

Furthermore, Bangladesh has experienced longer-than-usual monsoon seasons in recent years, with erratic rainfall over the March-to-October period and more breeding grounds popping up for mosquitoes, according to various disease and health experts.

The number of potential breeding sites identified in 2023 is the highest in the last five years, said Nazmul Islam, director of the disease control branch of Bangladesh’s health department.

Fiercer floods fueled by heavy rains and melting glaciers – driven by climate change – are another major factor behind the spread of dengue, said Mohammad Mushtuq Husain, an advisor at the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research.

The Bangladeshi government has also cited climate change as a driver behind the country’s worsening dengue outbreak.

Saber Hossain Chowdhury, the prime minister’s special envoy on climate change, said last month on the messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that the nation’s record dengue cases are “a clear instance of (the) climate change health nexus”.

Bangladesh needs to think about a national plan for adapting its health system to prevent diseases like dengue from turning into major disasters, Mr. Chowdhury said in an interview.

EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO CONTROL MOSQUITOES AND INFORM THE PUBLIC

As dengue lacks a specific cure, health experts say the disease must be kept at bay through control of mosquito breeding, engaging with the public, and managing symptoms.

In Dhaka, officials are going around the city spraying insecticide to kill mosquitoes and imposing fines on people if breeding sites for the larvae are found.

Atiqul Islam, mayor of the Dhaka North City Corporation, said the authorities would have to keep informing residents of the risks, and monitoring the situation, throughout the year.

“It’s not the time for pinning blame, rather everyone should come forward to deal with the dengue situation – for their love of this city where we are born, live and die,” said Islam.

In Nepal, Dhimal from the NHRC said no authority alone could stop dengue as mosquitoes are found everywhere from garages to the corners of houses which are out of reach of the government.

“Everyone should be aware and proactive, and contribute from their side to control the spread of the vector,” he added.

Civil society and development organizations are also helping to tackle the disease.

Sanjeev Kafley, head of the Bangladesh delegation for the International Red Cross, said it was helping to raise public awareness, procuring testing kits, and boosting the availability of platelets used in blood transfusions to treat some patients.

Yet when it comes to treatment broadly, ordinary families face high costs. Researchers from Dhaka University’s Institute of Health Economics have warned that total medical expenses for dengue patients may exceed 10 billion taka ($91 million) this year, up from 4.5 billion taka ($41 million) in 2019.

Dhaka resident Akhtar Hossain spent 60,000 taka ($545) on private hospital care for his daughter, Ayesha Tabassum Taqwa, who ultimately died of dengue last month at the age of 10.

Hossain cried as he spoke of Taqwa’s love of learning.

“Her books, notebooks … are all still on the reading table. (She) will never arrange new books,” he said. “(But) who can we blame and what is the point of talking about it?” – Reuters