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MINIMUM WAGE EARNERS IN METRO MANILA TO GET P35 HIKE ON JULY 17 By Vito Barcelo, Maricel V. Cruz and Othel V. Campos MINIMUM wage earners in Metro Manila will get a P35 hike in their daily salary starting July 17, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in the National Capital Region said. The new wage order raised the daily minimum wage in NCR from P610 to P645 for the non-agriculture sector, and from P573 to P608 for the agriculture sector, service and retail
establishments employing 15 or less workers, and manufacturing establishments regularly employing less than 10 workers. The Makabayan bloc, however, called the wage hike a “mere pittance” amid the inflation and as the family living wage stands at P1,200 – or a wage gap of more than P500. “This P35 increase is an insult to Filipino workers. It’s even lower than the P40 hike granted last year. How can the government expect NCR workers to survive
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 137 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2024
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‘Not only one POGO fixer’ Lobbyists mobbed Pagcor chief for licenses—official
By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel Cruz
PBBM, Speaker commit more funds for AFP By Charles Dantes and Maricel V. Cruz PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos on Monday vowed the government’s commitment to lift the Philippine Air Force’s capabilities as he joined in the celebration of the 77th anniversary of PAF in Pampanga President Marcos outlined efforts to bolster the PAF, including acquiring new
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ONEY may have changed hands for illegal POGOs to get support from former government officials, Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said, as the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation said there were several other lobbyists aside from an exCabinet secretary.
aircraft and radar systems, enhancing cyber warfare capabilities, and implementing base development programs. “We have likewise acquired additional aircraft, as well as advanced radar systems, which have transformed our operational readiness and enhanced our operational reach,” President Marcos said. Next page
TARGET PRACTICE. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. watches a Philippine Air Force jet bomb a target during the 77th Anniversary of the Philippine Air Force at Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga. He was joined by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Defense Secretary Gilberto ‘Gibo’ Teodoro and AFP Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr. in the ceremonies. Ver Noveno
PH, Japan to have bilateral war games with VFA-type pact PARTICIPANTS to the Philippineshosted Balikatan military exercises is expected to grow even further with the anticipated inclusion of the Japan SelfDefense Forces (JSDF) once a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between Manila and Tokyo is signed. In an interview on Saturday, AFP
Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. said that the JSDF may take part in the next iteration of the annual war games, which was traditionally exclusive between the Philippines and the United States. “We will have a Balikatan Exercise every year and for next year– 2025–
we are expecting that we will again from Beijing. have a big exercise and hopefully we “These are not only the United will have other nations joining us,” States and Australia, but we are also Brawner said. trying to get Japan, bebe He said that the Philippines will cause we are hopcontinue to host the large-scale miliing the RAA will tary exercises with more allied counbe signed very tries in defiance of persistent protests Next page
How to seat VP Sara in PBBM’s SONA still unclear IT REMAINS to be seen whether Vice President Sara Duterte and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will sit next to each other during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22. House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said it will be decided by the inter-agency committee working on the SONA seat plan.
For now, the seating arrangement for the VIPs have yet to be finalized, he added. “We have an interagency committee, wherein the Office of the President and the Senate counterparts are there. So, we will decide on that, the seating plan for the VIPs. As of now, wala pang decision,” Velasco told Next page
FUEL PRICES HIGHER ANEW
CACERES BISHOP GETS POPE’S PALLIUM
NEWS / A2
NEWS / A2
FREE AT LAST. The country’s oldest prisoner, Gerardo dela Peña, 85, was released yesterday from the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa. (See story on A2)
“That (report on POGO lobbyists) shows that money really changed hands that is why these POGOs are able to get the support of former officials,” Angara said. Pagcor chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco last week said a former Cabinet official tried to facilitate the grant of gaming licenses to some of the illegal POGOs that have been recently raided. On Monday, the gaming regulator said “several government officials” approached the state gambling agency to lobby for the license of some POGOs. “The Chairman himself got calls and hints from those officials. There Next page
Don’t believe all Sara says— Rody FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte told the media not to believe Vice President Sara Duterte’s announcement that three Dutertes, the former president and the incumbent mayor and congressman of Davao City, will be seeking Senate seats next year. The former president, quoted by ABS-CBN News, also said the Vice President is “just like him,” and was “baiting.” “You believe Inday? She will have her fun with you. Where have you seen a father and his two sons all running for the Senate? Don’t take Inday’s bait because she is just like me,” Duterte said. Next page