Hiring an applicant endorsed by the CEO

May 2, 2025 | 12:01 am

We in the human resource (HR) profession think hiring must be based on an objective process. However, sometimes, we can’t do it, like when a chief executive officer (CEO) “forces” us to hire someone without passing through an established evaluation system. How do we handle the situation? — White Linen.

There is no known cure for the allure of subjectivity, except for objectivity when an individual or an organization must follow established rules and procedures to counter the so-called “invisible hands.” As Scottish philosopher Adam Smith (1723-1790) said, the “invisible hands” are deeply woven into the fabric of our society.

Usually, we encounter this happening in a small, family business. So, what can you do?

It depends much on the specific job of this case, the rank and job title, and the reporting responsibility of the person being recommended.

You can’t do much if the job requires unparalleled trust and confidence by the CEO in the person who is about to be hired. It’s their prerogative to hire anyone whom they can trust, like an executive secretary, administrative assistant, bookkeeper, or accountant, among other related jobs.

The issue could become complex, say when the CEO insists on hiring a college undergraduate for a job that requires someone with a bachelor’s degree or with at least three years of corporate experience.

MANAGING THE SITUATION
My solution to this is to view all circumstances in their proper context. For example, when the CEO is being constrained by a “friendly request” from an official of a government regulatory agency or an elected official within the local government unit. If that happens, you have to manage the situation with professionalism, cold neutrality, and the highest form of diplomacy:

One, write a formal letter to the job applicant. Depending on the nature of each job, the letter must be signed by the highest-ranking HR official and the CEO. Emphasize the company’s objective process that if violated may result in an unfair situation and bad precedent. Use courteous language.

Two, document and observe the objective hiring process. Refer to the organization’s policies on objectivity, and commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion, if not integrity. Stay neutral. Explain that the process is by established criteria that if violated would result in an ethical breach with stockholders or other stakeholders, including a labor union.

Three, suggest an off-the-grid alternative process. If it has become difficult to decline such a job application, arrange for the involvement of other department heads or other executive panel for a regular post. If not, offer a time-based project employment contract that may not exceed six months.

Four, recommend the job applicant to the company’s affiliates. If not, pass it on to a manpower agency or employment cooperative if the job is for a non-management position. It’s an easy and fast-track approach, assuming that the applicant is not the snobbish type.

Five, assess its legal implication. Seek the advice of lawyers if there’s a possible breach of equal employment laws or a potential legal issue on nepotism or employment discrimination that could be filed by current employees or the union who may cry foul about the process.

Six, conduct a background investigation. If you can’t decline the application, the least that you can do is for the applicant to undergo a “strict” background check. Require them to submit the established pre-employment documents, including a clearance from the court of law, police, and the National Bureau of Investigation.

STAYING DISCREET
The HR department cannot disobey the CEO. However, HR can solve this issue without lifting a finger by emphasizing in so many discreet ways the need to uphold organizational integrity. HR can do this by sending an e-mail with a respectful tone to the CEO about the situation and the organizational predicament.

Reinforce that HR’s actions are objective and process driven. If it is done properly, the CEO may no longer force the issue given HR’s concerns. But again, let the CEO decide on the alternative options depending on the nature of the job being offered and the personality of a government official who is making the recommendation.

Bring Rey Elbo’s popular leadership program called “Superior Subordinate Supervision” to your management team. Learn through a unique and time-tested training methodology. Send a direct message on Facebook, LinkedIn, X or e-mail elbonomics@gmail.com or via https://reyelbo.com

Analysts’ April inflation rate estimates

May 2, 2025 | 12:00 am

INFLATION likely remained below 2% for a second straight month in April, analysts said, as the decline in key food prices such as rice kept the headline figure at bay. Read the full story.

Market turns to data for leads after volatile April

May 1, 2025 | 9:00 pm

KEY economic data and corporate results could help Philippine shares sustain their momentum this month after global trade concerns roiled markets in April, even dragging the local stock benchmark to a multi-year low.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) ended April in the green as it rose by 1.64% or 102.80 points to close at 6,354.99 on Tuesday.

Month on month, the PSEi was also up by 2.82% or 174.27 points from its 6,180.72 finish on March 31.

The market was closed on Thursday for Labor Day.

“The market managed to eke out a gain in April despite market volatility brought about by US President Donald J. Trump’s tariffs,” AP Securities, Inc. Research Head Alfred Benjamin R. Garcia said in a Viber message.

“While we expect the same issue to play a part in driving the market this coming month, investors will also likely consider domestic factors like first quarter earnings and gross domestic product (GDP) numbers,” Mr. Garcia said. “May is historically a weak month, so that’s something that should be accounted for as well. However, our outlook for the rest of the year remain moderately bullish, underpinned by what we believe is an undeserved undervaluation of Philippine stocks.”

On April 2, which Mr. Trump dubbed as “Liberation Day” for the US, Washington announced that it will impose “reciprocal” tariffs on most of its major trading partners, including the Philippines.

The PSEi on April 7 plummeted to 5,822.85, its worst finish in over two-and-a-half years or since it closed at 5,783.15 on Oct. 3, 2022, as Mr. Trump doubled down on his directive, sparking trade war fears.

However, Mr. Trump suspended the higher levies for 90 days starting April 9, instead implementing a blanket 10% tariff until July. Countries are now negotiating trade deals with the US.

DragonFi Securities, Inc. Equity Research Analyst Jarrod Leighton M. Tin said in a Viber message that easing trade concerns allowed the PSEi to reverse the losses seen early last month.

“The market was further buoyed by a 25-basis-point rate cut and encouraging first-quarter 2025 earnings from key index heavyweights, contributing to a strong monthly close,” Mr. Tin said. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on April 10 resumed its easing cycle after an unexpected pause in February, bringing the policy rate to 5.50%.

“Looking ahead to May, investors will be closely watching for continued progress in global trade de-escalation. Trade negotiations between the Philippines and the US will also be in focus. A successful push for lower tariffs could provide a significant lift to market sentiment,” he added.

For this month, the PSEi may continue to trade between 6,100 to 6,500 with an upside bias, Unicapital Securities, Inc. Research Head Wendy B. Estacio-Cruz said in a Viber message. “Some catalysts that we see are April inflation rate and first quarter GDP growth rate.”

The Philippine Statistics Authority will release April inflation data on May 6 and first quarter GDP data on May 8. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

China patrols disputed shoal amid drills between Philippines and US

May 1, 2025 | 8:48 pm

scarborough-Kalayaan — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

CHINA’S coast guard said it conducted law enforcement patrols around the disputed Scarborough Shoal and nearby waters in the South China Sea on Wednesday.

The coast guard said it had strengthened patrols since the start of April, and carried out tracking, surveillance and interception operations “in accordance with laws and regulations,” according to a report from a Chinese military news website.

It said it had warned and expelled “illegal vessels” that veered within its waters to protect China’s sovereignty and interests, China Military Online reported late Wednesday.

“Since April, the CCG (China Coast Guard) has continuously strengthened law enforcement patrols in the territorial waters of China’s Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal) and its surrounding areas,” the coast guard said.

Spokespersons of the Philippines’ Foreign Affairs department, military and coast guard did not immediately reply to separate Viber messages seeking comment.

Tensions between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea have worsened in the past year as Beijing continues to assert its sweeping claims, including on Scarborough Shoal, a key fishing ground claimed by both nations that it has controlled since 2012.

The shoal is 240 kilometers west of the main Philippine island of Luzon and is about 900 kilometers from Hainan, the nearest major Chinese landmass.

The Philippines took the dispute over Scarborough Shoal to a United Nations-backed tribunal in 2013, which ruled in 2016 that China had interfered with Filipino fishermen’s rights to access the area. Beijing has since deployed a fleet of coast guard vessels to enforce its claim despite the ruling.

Chinese patrols around Scarborough Shoal coincide with annual joint combat drills by Philippine and US forces, aimed at improving interoperability and preparedness to address shared regional security concerns. Beijing has said the drills are provocative.

More than 14,000 Filipino and American soldiers are participating in the Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercise, which are held in areas of the Philippine facing regional flashpoints like the South China Sea and Taiwan and feature advanced US missile systems. It began on April 21 and will run until May 9.

The combat exercises will see their forces rehearse how to repel an invasion and assert control over vital maritime structures in the western and northern Philippines.

“Coming up next week, we will continue our full battle test to validate crisis response procedures, defense plans and our bilateral coordination from the operational level all the way down to the tactical edge,” US Lieutenant General Michael S. Cederholm, commander of the I Marine Expeditionary Force, told a news briefing at the Philippine military’s headquarters on Wednesday.

‘NOT JUST AN EXERCISE’
Started in 1991, the Balikatan exercise has evolved into Southeast Asia’s premier combat rehearsal as the Philippines and US seek to strengthen security cooperation and enhance force interoperability in response to China’s growing assertiveness in the region.

“It is not just an exercise,” Philippine Brigadier General Michael G. Logico, assistant exercise director for this year’s Balikatan exercises, told the same briefing. “It also provides a broader message to the rest of the region… that we are here to maintain stability within the region.”

The South China Sea has become a flashpoint in Southeast Asia as China continues to assert sovereignty over almost the entire sea, seen as a vital global trade route that is also believed to be mineral-rich.

“The unique location of the Philippines makes it crucial to international trade,” Mr. Logico said.

The US has deployed its advanced missile systems for the drills, including a mobile anti-ship missile system, a portable artillery rocket system, a mid-range capability missile battery and a short-range air defense platform.

Asked if the anti-ship Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) would be kept in the country after the joint combat drills, Mr. Cederholm said: “I don’t talk about when we go out.”

“These are capabilities that the US Marine Corps and the Army are introducing all over the Pacific,” he said. “They accompany units, and when those units rotate back, the capabilities may stay or they may go with them.”

“We only keep weapon systems with the approval of the Philippine government.”

Last year, the US left an intermediate-range missile system called the Typhon Mid-Range Capability (MRC), which can launch missiles that can reach the Chinese mainland, in the Philippines after the 2024 Balikatan exercise. The deployment and its subsequent stay in the country has since drawn sharp criticism from Beijing.

Mr. Logico said the Philippines is looking at letting its anti-ship cruise missile system participate in combat drills once India completes its deliveries.

“It is our ultimate goal, once the delivery of the BrahMos system has been complete, that we will integrate that with either the NMESIS or the MRC for its full, combined exercises,” he said.

The Philippines placed three orders for Indian-made BrahMos cruise missile batteries worth $375 million (P21 billion) in 2022 as part of its military modernization efforts, and received the first batch last year. It will soon take delivery of a second batch after it was shipped late last month.

The BrahMos missile system, with a range of 290 kilometers, can achieve supersonic speeds and can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land-based platforms.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) plans to launch a new command later this year to oversee combat exercises with allies, as it seeks to bolster defense coordination amid evolving security challenges, its spokesperson Francel Margareth Padilla-Taborlupa told reporters on the sidelines of the briefing on Wednesday.

Called the AFP Strategic Command, military chief Romeo S. Brawner, Jr. said last week it would coordinate combat drills with allies and is patterned after Japan’s Joint Operations Command structure.

“We are doing three things: We are collaborating, calibrating and coiling like a spring,” she said. “With the creation of this command, we are getting ready [for] any eventuality.”

Marcos calls for regional wage increases, bucks legislated wage hike

May 1, 2025 | 8:47 pm

PBBM Marcos — PHILIPPINE STAR/NOEL B. PABALATE

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., on Thursday called for region-specific wage increases, bucking the labor sector’s call for a P150 to P200 legislated pay hike to keep up with inflation.

In a Labor Day event in Pasay City, the President said pay increases should be studied carefully because they affect businesses, jobs and the economy.

“We hear the call of our workers for better wages and assure you that your concerns are being addressed through the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs),” he said. “The government stands firm in its commitment to protecting and advancing workers’ welfare while promoting inclusive economic development.”

Since June 2024, 16 regions in the country have implemented minimum wage increases. Twenty-eight wage orders have been approved, including pay hikes for domestic workers.

Meanwhile, the Labor department said Metro Manila’s wage board would start reviewing entry-level pay rates this month, as the next minimum wage determination cycle begins.

“The National Capital Region (NCR) will be the first to begin its wage review this May 2025,” Labor Assistant Secretary and Bureau of Local Employment chief Patrick P. Patriwirawan, Jr. said in a Viber chat in Filipino.

“Per the President’s directive during the 2024 Labor Day for a timely review of minimum wage rates, our RTWPBs ensured to begin the review of minimum wage rates within 60 days from the anniversary date of their latest wage order,” he added.

NCR, which has the highest cost of living, also has the highest daily minimum wage of P645 for nonfarm workers. The last pay hike in the capital region took effect in July last year.

In contrast, regions such as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have considerably lower minimum wages, with rates for agricultural workers as low as P316.

On Feb. 19, 2024, the Senate approved a bill for a P100 daily wage increase for all minimum wage earners in the private sector, regardless of region or industry. In January, the House of Representatives labor committee endorsed a consolidated bill proposing a P200 across-the-board daily wage increase for private sector workers.

Labor groups decried the stalled legislated wage hike, arguing that it would help Filipinos cope with the rising cost of living, even if inflation has eased to 1.8% in March, the lowest in almost five years.

Kilusang Mayo Uno and allied organizations in a statement called for a daily minimum wage of P1,200, an amount calculated by think tank IBON Foundation as the minimum needed to adequately feed, clothe and shelter a family of five.

It said the increase is a matter of justice.

The group also challenged candidates in the midterm elections on May 12 to implement a living wage as a priority policy.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) renewed its call for reforms through a collective political initiative branded as the “Labor Vote.”

With less than two weeks before the elections, FFW President Jose Sonny G. Matula and allied unions sought to transform workers’ longstanding grievances into political power.

In a separate statement, Mr. Matula decried the government’s failure to engage organized labor in dialogue, accusing the government of ignoring key demands such as living wages, union rights, public service reform, wealth taxation, climate action and anti-corruption measures.

“The system favors the rich,” Mr. Matula said, blaming elite-dominated politics and big business for marginalizing labor and eroding democratic institutions.

He said the lack of meaningful engagement with workers, especially Mr. Marcos’s alleged failure to meet with labor groups since taking office, has deepened inequality and public disenchantment.

Labor groups are pushing a nine-point agenda centered on social justice, sustainable development and political accountability.

Marcos: SSS to offer low-interest salary, calamity loans

May 1, 2025 | 8:46 pm

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., on Thursday said the state-run Social Security System (SSS) would cut interest rates on salary and calamity loans starting July as part of efforts to ease borrowing costs for workers amid rising prices.

“Starting July 2025, [SSS] members with a clean record will be able to avail themselves of SSS loans at lower interest rates,” he said in Filipino at a Labor Day event in Pasay City.

“The interest rate will go down to 8% for salary loans and 7% for calamity loans. These rates have been reduced from the previous 10%,” he added.

Starting September, the spouses of deceased pensioners can also apply for loans of as much as P150,000.

“The SSS is also coordinating with several financial institutions to explore the possibility of establishing a microcredit loan facility,” the President said. “This aims to address the urgent financial needs of its members.”

The reduced interest rate will be for members who have not availed themselves of penalty condonation in the past five years, the SSS said in a statement.

It added that the microcredit facility for SSS members would have a tenor of 15 to 90 days.

“When we see a framework for this micro-credit program, we will implement it as soon as possible,” SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Joseph M. De Claro said in the statement.

Federation of Free Workers (FFW) President Jose Sonny G. Matula welcomed the move, but urged for much lower interest rate cuts.

“The government can still do better; it can still bring this down to 5%,” he said in a Viber chat. “Many workers have already pawned their ATM (automated teller machine) cards for loan sharks, so even with this loan relief, it’s not enough.”

He said the real solution is to increase wages. Labor groups have been calling for a legislated wage hike of P150 to P200 to keep up with inflation.

“Let’s be clear: Workers shouldn’t have to rely on loans just to get by. It would be better if there were no need to borrow just to survive,” he said.

“The better solution lies in addressing the root of the problem — low wages. We urge the government to go beyond debt relief and pursue a national living wage, job security and stronger social protection systems,” he added.

He called the SSS a “good band-aid,” adding that workers need “surgery-level” reforms.

Rising prices of essential goods such as food, fuel and transportation have placed increasing pressure on household budgets, particularly for minimum wage earners and low-income families. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Report on 19M illiterate Filipinos should jolt authorities to prioritize education — lawmaker

May 1, 2025 | 8:45 pm

Students-school — Students walk inside the campus of a high school in Quezon City, April 18, 2024. — REUTERS

A REPORT showing that about 19 million Filipino high school and senior high school graduates are illiterate should be considered as a “national emergency” and prompt authorities to prioritize education reforms, a congressman said on Thursday.

Around 18.9 million Filipinos who completed secondary education from 2019 to 2024 may be considered illiterate, as they struggle to read and comprehend a simple story, according to a Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report discussed in a Senate hearing on Wednesday.

“This is not just a crisis — it’s a national emergency,” Party-list Rep. France L. Castro said in a statement. “When one out of five senior high school graduates cannot comprehend a simple story despite years of schooling, we are looking at a systemic failure that threatens our country’s future.”

A 2022 World Bank report showed that nine of 10 Filipinos are unable to read and understand age-appropriate text at age 10.

“It’s alarming that despite the K-12 program, millions of young Filipinos still struggle to understand what they read,” Ms. Castro said.

A new curriculum, introduced in August 2023, sought to streamline learners’ education by focusing on reading, literacy, and numeracy in the first three schooling years of a student.

In 2024, Education Secretary Juan Edgardo M. Angara said the curriculum, launched by Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio during her stint as education chief, will continue to be revised based on the experience of teachers and students.

The Philippine government’s failure to ensure a sufficient budget to the education sector have left schools underfunded and teachers with inadequate salaries, Antonio L. Tinio, a party-list nominee in the midterm elections, said in the same statement.

“The government has consistently failed to meet the UN-recommended education budget allocation of 6% of GDP,” he said in Filipino. “The truth is simple: if investment in education is lacking, teachers and education support personnel receive inadequate salaries, and in turn, students learn less.”

The Philippines only allocated 3.6% of its GDP to education in 2022 according to World Bank data, below the 4-6% benchmark set by the Incheon Declaration.

“We need to double our current education budget to address classroom shortages, hire more qualified teachers, increase the salaries of teachers and education support personnel, provide quality learning materials, and implement effective literacy interventions,” said Ms. Castro.

In 2025, the combined budget of the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and state universities and colleges stood at P913.3 billion.

Meanwhile, an education advocacy group on Thursday said that political candidates for this year’s midterm election should prioritize education in their policy agenda.

“It is time to rise above politics and champion education. We urge the candidates to present concrete plans and real solutions that tackle the learning crisis, workforce readiness, and systemic reforms,” Philippine Business for Education Executive Director Hanibal Camua said in a separate statement.

“Education agencies cannot fix this crisis alone — and without bold, sustained support from elected leaders at every level of government, our most critical goals will remain out of reach,” he added. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Over 90,000 labor inspections conducted since 2022

May 1, 2025 | 8:44 pm

MegaSardines-factory-workers — PHILIPPINE STAR/KJ ROSALES

THE Philippines is intensifying its labor reform efforts, with over 90,000 labor inspections conducted from June 2022 to March 2025, as the government aims to align with global standards and promote safe and fair working conditions.

“We remain steadfast in our task to fully advance international labor standards,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., said in Filipino during a Labor Day event on Thursday, citing improved workplace safety, fair wages, and just treatment of workers as top priorities.

He said the Philippines is preparing to ratify International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 155, which outlines a national framework for occupational safety and health (OSH).

“This includes a dynamic policy approach to OSH,” he noted, adding that reforms also target the enhancement of labor dispute resolution services.

Highlighting Manila’s bid to rebuild global trust in its labor governance, Mr. Marcos cited the country’s renewed commitment to freedom of association and the right of workers to organize.

“We also continue to restore the status of the Philippines and the international community as a beacon of democratic rights and civil liberties of workers in the Asia Pacific,” he said.

In 2024, the Philippines secured a seat on the ILO’s Governing Body and its Freedom of Association Committee, as well as on the ILO International Training Center board.

Mr. Marcos added the country has begun implementing a tripartite roadmap to institutionalize the right to organize, marking progress on a long-standing labor issue frequently raised by international observers.

The Philippines has faced persistent criticism over violations of workers’ rights to freely associate and organize. Labor unions and civil society groups have long reported incidents of union harassment, red-tagging, and even violence against labor leaders, especially in export zones and agribusiness sectors.

In 2023, the ILO sent a High-Level Tripartite Mission (HLTM) to Manila in response to mounting complaints about attacks on trade unionists and insufficient government enforcement of labor protections.

The HLTM report urged the government to end impunity for labor rights violations and strengthen mechanisms to protect union activities.

It also recommended the development of a roadmap on freedom of association and a more consistent application of ILO Conventions No. 87 and No. 98, which safeguard the right to organize and bargain collectively. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Actions vs climate change backed

May 1, 2025 | 8:43 pm

MOST Filipinos support projects that address climate change and methane emissions as more Filipinos feel their impact on their personal lives, a study showed.

In a poll commissioned by Global Methane Hub, 93% of Filipinos expressed total support for actions that minimize the impacts of climate change and 86% for minimizing harmful methane emissions.

According to the survey, almost all of the 600 Filipino respondents said that they believe in climate change, with 83% of them believing that human actions are to blame.

They also reported feeling the greatest impacts of climate change, with nearly seven out of 10 saying they felt strong or extreme climate impacts.

“Communities that are feeling the most heat — literally — are also the most vocal in calling for climate action,” said Marcelo Mena, chief executive officer of the Global Methane Hub.

“Cutting methane is one of the fastest ways to bring temperatures down, and people know it. It’s not just science—it’s a direct response to what they’re experiencing on the ground,” he added.

Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) Asia Pacific Regional Organics Campaigner Shibu Nair said that the Philippines generates about 60,640 tons of waste per day, of which 52% is organic.

“There is a great potential for organic waste reduction in the country. The survey result brings in more attention to Zero Waste Cities programs, which reduce organic waste methane through source segregation and decentralized recovery through composting,” he said.

“We recognize the importance of local governments that implement programs to enable organic waste methane reduction. GAIA is facilitating the Cities Methane Pledge to encourage local governments to commit to contribute to the goal of 70% reduction of methane by 2030,” he added.

Meanwhile, the survey also showed that Filipinos expressed enthusiasm for targeted policies such as actions that will minimize methane emissions from the energy, agricultural, and waste management sectors.

“When Filipinos were asked about their biggest environmental concerns, climate change topped the list with 74% saying they were very concerned, exceeding even hurricanes and typhoons,” Global Methane Hub said.

“This places the Philippines second only to Colombia (75%) in the countries surveyed when it comes to expressing similar levels of concern, and it aligns with the broad constituencies of support for action on methane pollution,” it added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

Speaker seeks support for admin bets

May 1, 2025 | 8:43 pm

Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas — PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. attended a party convention in Pasay City where the administration’s senatorial bets for the 2025 elections were announced. The alliance comprises the country’s five major political parties — Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, Nationalist People’s Coalition, Nacionalista Party and National Unity Party. — PPA POOL/ RYAN BALDEMOR

HOUSE Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Thursday met with more than 100 lawmakers of the House of Representatives, urging them to intensify grassroots campaigning for the administration’s Senate slate as the midterm vote nears.

Mr. Romualdez met with congressmen across party lines alongside his deputy speakers at Malacañang, where he urged lawmakers to campaign for the Senate candidates backed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

“Your endorsement carries weight,” he said in a statement. “You are trusted voices in your districts. The people listen to you, and now is the time to speak with clarity and conviction in favor of the Alyansa team.”

Mr. Romualdez, who also leads the Philippines’ dominant political party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), previously urged its support for the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas (Alliance for a New Philippines) in pursuit of a decisive victory.

Shortly after his meeting with Lakas-CMD, the Speaker also met with a coalition of more than 50 party-list groups, rallying them behind the alliance.

“We need to put extra effort into our Alyansa candidates. As I’ve said in many of our gatherings, we must vote straight Alyansa. We have to go that extra mile for them, and that’s why we’re here,” he said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

New unified labor body sought

May 1, 2025 | 8:42 pm

KMU-labor groups protest — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

A SENATOR on Thursday said he would file a bill seeking the creation of a labor body that would include members of Congress, the Executive, businesses and workers to pursue a “sustainable solution” to hiking Philippine minimum wage rates.

“This would provide a comprehensive look at what the real wage should be, taking into account the actual expenses of a family for education, health, among others,” Senator Alan Peter S. Cayetano said in a statement, who will file a bill next week Monday.

Minimum wages in the Southeast Asian nation are set by regional wage boards. But slow and meager increases amid rising prices have prompted lawmakers to push the legislated wage increase.

The Senate approved a counterpart proposal for a P100 daily wage increase for private-sector workers in February last year, while a counterpart bill by the House of Representatives sought a P200 daily minimum wage hike and was approved in February this year.

Business groups have opposed the proposed legislated wage hikes, arguing the move does not take into account differences in each region’s cost of living and industry needs. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

APECO begins construction of P185-M tourism, ice plant projects

May 1, 2025 | 8:42 pm

THE Aurora Pacific Economic Zone Authority and Freeport Zone (APECO) has started the construction of the P185-million tourism and ice plant projects within the Casiguran Economic Zone (ecozone).

In a statement on Thursday, APECO said that it held a groundbreaking ceremony for the projects together with Central Sierra Hotel Resorts, Inc. (CSHRI) and TGV Development Corp. on April 30.

In particular, the CSHRI will be developing a P145-million beachfront resort on a 1.5-hectare lot within the ecozone. The 70-room development is targeted to begin operations in the next 12 months.

“This will truly change the tourism landscape in Casiguran,” said APECO President and Chief Executive Officer Gil G. Taway IV.

“Casiguran is already home to many beautiful spots, but with this development, we expect a rise in visitors. Beyond the area’s natural charm, travelers are also seeking comfortable and high-quality accommodations,” he added.

TGV Development also began construction for its P40-million ice and food processing plant facility which has the capacity to process 20 tons of tube ice and 1 ton of marine products sourced from local fisherfolks.

TGV Development President and Chief Executive Officer Rene Tayag said that the company also has plans to further expand the development to include commercial spaces and a gas station.

“Our funding facilities, including support from the Development Bank of the Philippines, Philippine Guarantee Corp., and Pampanga Development Bank, remain in progress,” he said.

“The president of the Pampanga Development Bank is also expected to visit the site soon for an on-ground assessment,” he added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile