TUCP to prioritize wage hike bill refiling By Justine Xyrah Garcia
W
WORLD » A8
IRAN-ISRAEL CEASEFIRE HOLDS AS TRUMP VENTS FRUSTRATION WITH BOTH SIDES AMID CONFLICTING INTELLIGENCE REPORTS
ROTARY CLUB OF MANILA JOURNALISM AWARDS
2006 National Newspaper of the Year 2011 National Newspaper of the Year 2013 Business Newspaper of the Year 2017 Business Newspaper of the Year 2019 Business Newspaper of the Year 2021 Pro Patria Award PHILIPPINE STATISTICS AUTHORITY 2018 Data Champion
ITH the 20th Congress set to convene next month, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has vowed to refile its proposal for a P200 across-the-board wage increase. TUCP Legislative Officer Carlos P. Oñate announced on Wednesday that the labor group, along with other labor organizations, will continue to push for a more livable wage for Filipino workers. The announcement comes after the 19th Congress adjourned sine die without ratifying the proposed nationwide wage hike. “The TUCP party-list will refile the P200 legislated wage increase bill that was passed by the House of Representatives. This will be the first measure we will file when the 20th Congress opens,” Oñate said during a press
conference in Quezon City. Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed on third and final reading House Bill 11376, which mandates a P200 daily wage increase for all minimum wage earners in the private sector, including contractual and sub-contractual workers. The Senate passed a similar measure in 2024, mandating a P100 increase. However, both chambers failed to convene a bicameral conference committee, which is needed to reconcile differing provisions and finalize a unified version of the bill for the President’s signature. Oñate said the TUCP hopes the measure will move faster this time, citing Section 48 of the Rules of the House. Under this rule, if a bill has been approved on third reading in the previous Congress, it may be fast-tracked in the next.
file their version of the wage hike bill once the new Congress begins. “What’s needed now is for our fellow workers not to lose hope. Let’s continue monitoring and putting pressure so that our congressmen, congresswomen, and senators are kept on notice,” Oñate said.
Is there still hope?
“We need key members of Congress to feel the urgency coming from workers who are demanding a real increase—not just token adjustments.”—Partido Manggagawa chairman Rene Magtubo
He added that the TUCP has already secured a commitment from senators that they will re-
PARTIDO Manggagawa Chairperson Rene Magtubo believes an across-the-board wage hike remains possible, even after what labor groups described as the 19th Congress “dillydallying” on the measure. HB 11376 spent nearly nine months pending at the House Committee on Labor and Employment before it was approved on second reading in February, more than a year since the Senate approved its version. See “TUCP,” A2
BusinessMirror A broader look at today’s business
EJAP JOURNALISM AWARDS
BUSINESS NEWS SOURCE OF THE YEAR
(2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
2018 BANTOG MEDIA AWARDS
EXPERTS WEIGH POST-US TARIFF PAUSE SCENARIOS www.businessmirror.com.ph
n
Thursday, June 26, 2025 Vol. 20 No. 256
P25.00 nationwide | 3 sections 26 pages | 7 DAYS A WEEK
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
T
HERE is a possibility that Washington’s 90-day pause on higher tariffs would be extended, given that there are still around 50 negotiating deals pending on the US negotiating table, according to former Tariff Commissioner George N. Manzano. POST-U.S. TARIFF PAUSE SCENARIOS: WHAT’S AT STAKE? US Tariff Rates on Asean Exports (Post-Pause, Starting July 9) Tariff Rate 49% 48% 46% 44% 36% 32% 24% 24% 17% 10%
A tariff pause extension is possible, but uncertain. For the Philippines, keeping tariffs at 10% could support exports and economic competitiveness.
ECONOMISTS WEIGH IN
The Philippines currently enjoys a 10% tariff rate until July 8 under the 90-day pause. Without a new agreement, the rate reverts to 17%.
“There are more than 50 countries interested in negotiating with the US. As of now, only the deal between the US and UK seems to have taken off,” Manzano told the BusinessMirror in a Viber message on Wednesday. “There are ongoing talks with China. I doubt all 50 deals will be concluded by July 9, and thus there is a possibility that the pause will be extended. There is a
“10% is more favorable than 17%.” – Dante Canlas “Lower tariffs make PH exports more competitive.” – George Manzano “Encourages tech & capital investment.” – Leonardo Lanzona
great deal of uncertainty,” he also told this paper, adding that the tariff policy of Washington is independent from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. For his part, Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU) economist Leonardo Lanzona told this paper: “From Trump’s perspective, the [Middle East] conflict is over. So I don’t think he will further pause See “Experts,” A2
GOVT TO ACQUIRE NEW TOOLS TO TRACK AI-DRIVEN THREATS By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
T
@blessogerio
HE government is set to procure new digital systems capable of scanning and removing harmful artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content online, including deepfakes, as part of efforts to keep the internet safer amid increasing connectivity. Renato Paraiso, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) deputy executive director, said the agency is expanding its capabilities to detect, assess, and address emerg-
BM Graphics: Ed Davad
Country Cambodia Laos Vietnam Myanmar Thailand Indonesia Malaysia Brunei Philippines Singapore
ing AI-related threats across digital platforms. “The government, particularly the CICC, will procure new systems to sweep and scrub the internet against online harms,” Paraiso said in Filipino during a media forum last week. “Our goal is to ensure that as we expand internet access, we also protect that space.” According to Paraiso, the CICC already uses tools that can analyze deepfakes, or AI-manipulated videos or images, but the agency aims to move beyond detection and enable real-time removal of malicious content. See “Govt,” A5
HIGHLAND HARVEST HUSTLE La Trinidad, Benguet—The vegetable trading post buzzes with early morning activity on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, as vendors unload crates of freshly harvested highland produce. With prices holding steady, traders eagerly await bulk buyers from the lowlands, fueling the vital farm-to-market supply chain. Known as the country’s “Salad Bowl,” Benguet continues to be a crucial source of fresh vegetables for Metro Manila and beyond. MAU VICTA
Chinoy group bares reforms to lure tourists By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo Special to the BusinessMirror
N
UMBERS don’t lie. The Philippines remains in the backwater of tourist arrivals and a package of reforms is needed to improve this, specifically addressing peace and order issues, infrastructure, visa policies, and marketing strategy. In a news statement on Wednesday, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) President Victor Lim said they “fully support Interior Secretary Juanito Victor ‘Jonvic’ Remulla’s call for an uncompromising, nationwide security drive, particularly in tourist hotspots. As the business commu-
nity, we stand ready to support DILG [Department of Interior and Local Government] initiatives through community engagement, technological investments in surveillance, and collaboration with local businesses to ensure safer environments for visitors and citizens alike.” FFCCCII also recommended more competitive visa policies to simplify a foreign tourist’s entry to the Philippines. “There is urgent need to streamline visa processes for East Asian tourists and investors—particularly from China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan—who represent immense untapped potential,” said Lim. The influential Chinoy executives also called for the ease of travel to
and within the country. “Seamless travel requires modern airports, efficient transport links and digital-ready tourism services. We commend the DILG’s efforts to coordinate with local governments and support public-private partnerships that accelerate development of gateways beyond Manila,” said Lim. The Department of Transportation oversees the development of airports in the country, and the networking of transport links to connect destinations. The Department of Public Works and Highways, however, has stopped funding the construction of new tourism roads. FFCCCII likewise suggested an improvement in the Philippines’s promotion strategy, which falls squarely on
the shoulders of the Department of Tourism (DOT), not the DILG. Still, Lim said: “Beyond addressing security concerns, we must aggressively rebrand the Philippines in global media. The DILG’s leadership in showcasing not just our natural wonders, but also our stability and warmth is crucial to changing perceptions.” The DOT under Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco changed the country’s branding and slogan to “Love the Philippines” from the award-winning “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” and yet last year, there were just 5.95 million foreign visitor arrivals in the country—or 28-percent less than the 8.3-million historic-high arrivals in 2019. This See “Chinoy,” A2
PESO EXCHANGE RATES n US 56.9870 n JAPAN 0.3934 n UK 77.5992 n HK 7.2597 n CHINA 7.9467 n SINGAPORE 44.5315 n AUSTRALIA 36.9789 n EU 66.1733 n KOREA 0.0420 n SAUDI ARABIA 15.1921 Source: BSP (June 25, 2025)