EDITORIAL

A need to correct waste disposal practices

At least 21 tons of garbage were collected during the second cleanup drive along the Guadalupe
River in Cebu City last Saturday. Led by Mayor Edgardo Labella and other city officials,
thousands of volunteers participated in the event, picking up trash from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The cleanup campaign was the first under the administration of Labella, who said he will call for
a meeting with the city’s 80 barangay captain to discuss the need to monitor their constituents’
waste disposal practices.

For the mayor, there should be a strict policy against the throwing of garbage into the river, as he
warned barangay officials that inaction would mean administrative sanction under the Local
Government Code.

Barangay officials have a crucial role in the campaign for proper waste disposal. They should not
have to depend on the city government as far as disciplining their constituents on trash
management is concerned.

Look, last Saturday’s event was the second cleanup drive along the Guadalupe River. And it
seems residents along one of the city’s biggest bodies of water never learned to care for it
considering the large amount of trash collected from the river.

It’s clear that the problem lies in the absence of religious monitoring among barangay
authorities. The reason why many throw their garbage into the river is that they always get away
with their crime.

Of course, the lack of surveillance can also be attributed to the fact that local environmental
authorities have done little in their mandate to urge barangays to be aggressive in the campaign
and to impose sanctions on violators.

We do hope that with Labella’s vow to sanction barangay officials who are not performing well
in the area of garbage disposal, they will come to realize the need to comply with the provisions
of the Local Government Code.

(The Freeman) - August 19, 2019 - 12:00am

1
EDITORIAL

Traffic summit
Local officials and the private sector are finally acting on the worsening road situation around
Metro Cebu as they scheduled for next month the first traffic summit that the local government
unit of Cebu City is initiating.

During the summit, representatives from the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board
(MCDCB)’s Mega Cebu, all LGUs under the MCDCB, Mall Operators Association, Cebu
Contractors Association, Philippine National Police, Traffic Patrol Group, Land Transportation
Office-7, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7, Department of Public Works
and Highways-7, and Department of Trade and Industry will try to come up with ideas that will
once and for all solve the traffic problem.

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella admitted the event may not bear an automatic positive fruit.
However, he is hopeful it will be the start of a coordinated approach to the problem that has been
choking the metro for years.

“It’s a common knowledge to all of us that we have serious traffic problem in the city and the
neighboring local governments. So, we will discuss possible ways so we can redress this traffic
rules. There would be recommendations,” the mayor said.
Yes, it’s high time for all stakeholders – government and private sector – to pool their resources
together and unite in coming up with an integrated remedy for the traffic crisis that has already
been taking a heavy economic toll on Cebuanos.

We have to admit that years of individual approach to the problem has brought us nowhere. In
fact, the worsening traffic problem has become the single biggest economic obstacle the metro is
currently facing.

It is good that Cebu City, being Metro Cebu’s economic hub, is initiating the traffic summit.
There is no other LGU that should spearhead this undertaking than Cebu City itself given the fact
that it is the nerve center of the metro.

As Labella said: “This is really our sincere desire to help solve traffic. After all, Cebu City is the
center of all of these LGUs. Vehicles will pass through the city. So, I think it is logical to start
this. If we don’t start it, kinsa man, ug kanus-a pa man?”

(The Freeman) - August 24, 2019 - 12:00am

2
EDITORIAL

No-show

As of Monday night, no one from drug overdose victim Ashley Abad’s companions, especially
her boyfriend, surfaced and went to authorities to clear his name. This despite the ultimatum and
the repeated requests from the police for them to come forward.

Investigators are having a hard time looking into what really happened on that tragic night when
Abad and her friends went partying. They seem to face a blank wall in their efforts to get to the
bottom of the incident, pending a statement from any of her companions.

The only fact that we currently know based on police investigation is that, it was confirmed that
Abad died of overdose from a party drug. The report said she collapsed after consuming a drink
laced with Ecstasy during a party before the Sinulog.

Those were the only pieces of information that investigators have as they sift through whatever
evidence they possess. As to how the party drugs found their way into the pockets of those
youngsters, no one, even the police authorities, knows.
The only way police investigators can score a major development in the case is through the
testimonies of those who witnessed the incident. The case will not really go anywhere unless, of
course, there is a credible statement from those privy to the incident.
That is why it’s really important for Abad’s boyfriend and her companions to come forward and
cooperate with the authorities. Their testimonies are vital to the immediate resolution of the case,
which has now gained the attention of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Opting to remain silent would not do any good for Abad’s boyfriend and their companions, who
could be facing charges over her death. Instead, being a no-show will only trigger the perception
they have something to hide.

If Abad’s boyfriend and their companions do not really have something to do with her death, the
best move for them is to surface and reiterate their innocence to the authorities. They should help
the victim’s family attain speedy justice.

(The Freeman) - February 13, 2019 - 12:00am

3
EDITORIAL

Realignment

At least two opposition members of the Cebu City Council cried foul over the plan of Mayor
Edgardo Labella to realign the rice assistance intended for the thousands of habal-habal or
motorcycle-for-hire drivers in the city.

For councilors Nestor Archival and Lea Japson, the executive department is courting a charge of
technical malversation because Labella’s move is tantamount to illegal use of public funds since
the rice has been bought solely for motorcycle-for-hire drivers.

Labella wanted to divert the rice assistance – which the administration of former mayor Tomas
Osmeña started distributing to the city’s motorcycle-for-hire drivers – to policemen and fire
victims.

Although Archival said the opposition councilors do not object to the move appropriating rice
assistance for the police and fire survivors, such should not come from the provision intended for
habal-habal drivers.

“I’m not objecting. The idea here is that if these sacks of rice intended for a project for a certain
appropriation, if we are going to give it to another project which is not supposed to be in that
certain activity, we might have a technical malversation,” Archival said.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with the move of Labella realigning habal-habal drivers’ rice
assistance as there are other sectors that need more urgent help. However, the executive
department should execute it in the proper way like pushing for a council resolution authorizing
the mayor for such a purpose.

Labella’s move is understandable. It seems that he does not want to continue the rice provision
considering that those recipients are not really part of those who are presently marginalized –
like fire victims – who need immediate help from the local government.

In fact, many have construed the previous administration’s move of giving rice assistance in the
months leading to the May 13 elections as nothing but a mere political ploy to attract votes from
the thousands of habal-habal drivers in the city.

(The Freeman) - August 23, 2019 - 12:00am

4
EDITORIAL

Phl must uphold its rights over its territorial waters

Now that the Palace has announced that President Rodrigo Duterte will bring the arbitral ruling
on the South China Sea dispute before China President Xi Jinping when the two leaders meet in
the coming days, the former should highlight the encroachment of Chinese vessels in Philippine
territorial waters.

These past days, the Department of National Defense expressed alarm over the reported presence
of at least two Chinese research vessels and warships in the seawaters that are part of the
Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.

A Philstar.com report the other day said US Naval College assistant professor Ryan Martinson
tweeted photos of two Chinese oceanographic survey ships reportedly navigating in Philippine
territorial waters.

The report said Chinese research ship Dong Fang Hong 3 was spotted in northern Luzon on
August 7 while survey vessel Zhang Jian was detected 80 nautical miles off the east coast of the
Philippines on August 3. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, however, said the Armed Forces
of the Philippines has yet to confirm the report.

Well, let us see if Duterte makes good his promise to bring the sea dispute issue before President
Xi. Since assuming office, many Filipinos have become disappointed by his unclear stand on the
issue.

Now, it’s high time for the present administration, and Duterte himself, to assert the country’s
claim over its Exclusive Economic Zone. The world, through the arbitrary ruling, has sided with
the Philippines and it’s just natural for the country to uphold its rights over its territorial waters.

Of course, China is not expected to budge on the sea ruling. In fact, it has been flexing its
muscles by strengthening its presence in the disputed areas despite worldwide calls for it to abide
by the arbitrary decision.

That Duterte is taking serious steps telling President Xi that what China was doing was a blatant
incursion into the Philippine territory should send a strong message to the Asian giant that the
Philippines is doing whatever it takes to defend its sovereignty.
(The Freeman) - August 11, 2019 - 12:00am

5
EDITORIAL

A front for prostitution business

Many are wondering how those 34 women from China who were rescued recently by operatives
of the National Bureau of Investigation Central Visayas ended up working at a high-end karaoke
bar in Lapu-Lapu City.

For NBI-7 Director Tomas Enrile, however, these women were victims of human trafficking,
recruited in China on a promise of legal employment through the Philippine Online Gaming
Operation (POGO).

“It appears that they were recruited from China… they were promised jobs here in a legal
gambling operation at POGO but they ended up as high-class prostitutes in Cebu," according to
Enrile, who added that the KTV bar in Lapu-Lapu City appeared to be exclusive to Chinese
nationals because their informant posing as a customer was not allowed to enter.

As it investigates the incident, the bureau is zeroing on the human trafficking angle considering
the fact that the Chinese nationals who were used as high-class prostitutes were recruited as
online gaming workers. Of course, the NBI should look into whether or not those behind the
trafficking of foreign women have Filipino connections.

Lured by the booming online gaming in the Philippines that has been attracting thousands of
South Koreans and other foreign nationals, these Chinese women were perhaps legally recruited
in China to work in the country.

The fact that they entered the country with valid documents for legal work but ended up as
commercial sex workers in Lapu-Lapu City can only mean there are human trafficking
syndicates behind the recruitment of some foreign workers.

Since these syndicates were able to operate under the noses of the authorities, there is a high
chance they are being protected by some unscrupulous government officials, something that the
NBI investigation should focus on.

6
As the country’s bustling online gaming industry has been drawing thousands from China and
other countries, it’s unfortunate that it has been used by syndicates as a front to traffic women for
their prostitution business.

(The Freeman) - August 10, 2019 - 12:00am

7
EDITORIAL

An exercise in futility
At least 70 houses and other structures were demolished in a lot owned by the University of the
Philippines Cebu in Sitio Avocado, Barangay Lahug in Cebu City on Wednesday, leaving
several families homeless.

The demolition was done by virtue of an order of the court, which dismissed the motion for
reconsideration filed by the residents who sought to stop the university from repossessing the
4,000-square meter lot.

As the demolition is expected to continue in the coming days, some affected residents are
reportedly pursuing legal charges against the people responsible, claiming they were illegally
evicted from the area.

The area, which was hit by a fire in 2015, has been the subject of a legal tussle between the
settlers and the UP Cebu management, which wants to reclaim it for its high school department’s
expansion.

We can only sympathize with the Sitio Avocado settlers. Many of them have been living in the
area for decades, building concrete houses and other structures believing that, as members of the
urban poor, the school cannot touch them.

However, one thing they have forgotten is that they do not have any documents that legally
support their occupation of the lot. In fact, as informal settlers, the city government has already
identified a property in Barangay Busay as their permanent relocation site.

As the court sides with the university management and has already ordered the demolition of
their houses, the Sitio Avocado occupants have no other option except to pack up and leave the
place. They can always rebuild their houses in their Busay relocation site anytime or move to
other areas to start life anew.

They will gain nothing if they insist on remaining in an area that is not legally theirs. Fighting for
a piece of property without any legal basis other than just occupying it for decades is certainly an
exercise in futility.

(The Freeman) - August 9, 2019 - 12:00am

8
EDITORIAL

Back to normal
It seems all the talks about the need to put Negros Oriental under martial law have died a natural
death as peace and order is now slowly returning to that province following the series of murders
the past weeks.

According to the Philippine National Police, normalcy has started returning to the violence-torn
province following deployment of more police personnel to quell the worsening peace and order
situation largely blamed on the New People’s Army rebels.

This positive development is the main reason why the police are not keen on recommending to
President Rodrigo Duterte the need to declare martial law in Negros Oriental, said PNP
spokesman Brigadier Gen. Bernard Banac.

However, violence rearing its ugly head in Negros Oriental again would breathe new life into the
military rule issue with the military and police may force to recommend for martial law’s
eventual declaration in the province.

Earlier, Duterte had seriously entertained the idea of putting Negros Oriental under martial law
as rising violence that killed at least 21 people in 10 days across the province slowly spiraled into
a peace and order disaster.

Now it’s good the situation in the neighboring province has returned to normal with no new
report of another high-profile killing being reported since the start of this month. And this is
largely due to the deployment of additional troops.

Filipinos cannot afford seeing Negros Oriental being put under military rule since such will only
create a horrible impression that the situation has become uncontrollable that only a martial law
can restore order.
Even if, heaven forbid, violence would again erupt in the province, there’s really no need for the
Duterte administration to invoke the help of military rule. Declaring martial law will only add
more fuel to the fire because such would be a perfect venue for enemies of the state to accuse the
military and police of human rights abuses.

(The Freeman) - August 8, 2019 - 12:00am

9
EDITORIAL

Safety measures
Inadequate soil protection has been largely blamed by the authorities as the cause of the collapse
of a portion of a commercial building at the corner of Gorordo Avenue and Escario Street in
Cebu City Monday dawn.

Cebu City Hall’s Office of the Building Official (OBO), in its initial investigation, said the firm
conducting soil excavation for a condominium project allegedly failed to comply with the
requirements on soil protection, leading to the weakening and softening of the ground.

As the OBO suspended any operations at the site, the Environmental Management Bureau of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources is also looking into the matter, checking any
possible lapses by the project contractor.

City legal officer Rey Gealon said the cease and desist order issued by the city was just an
emergency measure. “In any case, the general welfare clause requires that the public safety be
promoted through the cessation of dangerous construction works except only construction for the
purpose of erecting a protective wall to prevent further collapse of the Juanita Building,” he said.

Last Monday’s incident was just the latest in several accidents involving private construction
projects around the city. Some of these accidents – which revolved around the lack of safety
measures – have even cost many lives.

In the first place, it’s really the one who is undertaking the project that should be held liable for
any accident. The fact that an accident occurred must have something to do with the lack of
safety measures being put in place.
But the blame should not just stop with the project contractor and developer. The local
government should also be held responsible for any accident in the construction site due to the
fact that it has never been strict in enforcing the law.

The problem is that there has never been an aggressive monitoring of constructions projects
sprouting around the city. This enables accidents to occur because some firms failed to
religiously follow the safety requirements.

(The Freeman) - August 7, 2019 - 12:00am

10
EDITORIAL

Trash problem
Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella has brushed aside fears of a looming garbage crisis in the city
following the expiration of the contract with a private hauler today as the local government is
now in the process of rebidding the cancelled garbage disposal contract.

Labella said he is calling for a meeting with all barangay captains in the city next week to discuss
the disposal of waste. The Department of Public Services has asked the public to put out garbage
in the streets only during the scheduled collection.

“There is really no problem with our garbage collection. In fact, we have friends who committed
to help the city government continue the collection in the meantime that we are still on the
bidding process. Even Ayala committed to help,” the mayor said.

Now, in the absence of a contractor hauling garbage, many expect a problem to arise regarding
the city’s trash disposal. With the contract with Jomara Konstruckt Corp. now ended, who will
continue to collect the city’s garbage?

Jomara had been contracted by the previous administration to haul garbage from the city’s
transfer station in Barangay Inayawan to any landfill. Now that its contract with the city has
ended, unless City Hall rebids the P65-million garbage collection contract, a trash crisis is really
inevitable.

What Labella should do is push for the immediate rebidding of the contract, which was earlier
entered into by the city and the ARN Central Waste Management Inc. but cancelled because of
legal and environmental issues.

The city government should not wait for the trash to pile up because no firm has been contracted
to pick it from the transfer station. Lest the city government forgets, garbage is one of the issues
that Labella promised to address during his campaign for the city’s highest position during the
last elections.

(The Freeman) - July 20, 2019 - 12:00am

11
EDITORIAL

Duterte’s silence
President Rodrigo Duterte has received strong criticisms regarding his silence on last week’s
sinking of a Filipino fishing vessel by a Chinese ship in Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea
or the South China Sea.

Following the incident, Duterte made no public condemnation which his critics, especially the
opposition, found unfortunate, since for them it is impossible for the president not to know the
whole story from his advisers.

But Malacañang explained that Duterte has yet to receive the final results of the investigation
into the incident. "He's (Duterte) not silent. He's waiting for the facts to set in before he makes
any declaration," presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo was quoted by Philstar.com as saying.

As the Philippine and Chinese governments are separately investigating the incident, Panelo said
the government never doubted the claim of Filipino fishermen who accused the Chinese of
attacking and sinking their boat.

If it is true that a Chinese ship was really responsible for the sinking of the Filipino fishing
vessel, then it is only appropriate for the Philippine government to demand justice from the
Chinese government over the incident.

It’s good that a diplomatic protest has already been filed against China by the Department of
Foreign Affairs before the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a first step toward
knowing what really happened on June 9.

To explain his silence, it’s clear that Duterte is still calculating the issue. He seems to be not
rushing to conclusions in the absence of the full picture in order not to preempt the ongoing
investigation.

Yes, the president is expected to break his silence on the incident. But he cannot just issue a
statement condemning China, as what his critics wants him to do, without really knowing the
real score. To do so only adds fuel to the fire.
(The Freeman) - June 18, 2019 - 12:00am

12
EDITORIAL

Of PCSO and corruption

Until further notice, there will be no lines at thousands of lotto outlets across the country as
gaming operations have been suspended by President Rodrigo Duterte since Friday because of
what he claimed was serious corruption.

The president had ordered the closure of all gaming activities of the Philippine Charity
Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), saying he is already fed up with the reports of massive corruption
that has long been besetting the agency.

Duterte’s order came just days after the assumption of Royina Garma as the new PCSO general
manager. Garma, the former director of the Cebu City Police Office, may have found out the
massive corruption inside the agency and immediately reported it to the president.

The move of the president is bad news for those who patronize the lotto and other gaming
activities of the PCSO. For the next few days or weeks, they can no longer place their bets for a
chance to win the jackpot.

Let’s see if the Duterte administration succeeds in ridding the PCSO of corrupt employees and
officials. Of course, we do hope the government is really serious in its campaign of cleaning up
the agency like he did in other government offices.

While we understand Duterte’s seriousness in dealing with corruption at the PCSO, there’s really
no need for him to close the gaming operations of the agency for the sake of thousands working
in lotto outlets who might lose their jobs.

Duterte can always push through with his mission of aggressively cleaning up the agency
without really affecting the thousands and their families who depend on its operations through
the lotto and other gaming activities.

The PCSO is just one of many government agencies that have been seriously saddled with
massive corruption for decades. And like the other offices, the government does not have to
close some its functions in its crusade against corrupt officials and employees.

(The Freeman) - July 29, 2019 - 12:00am

13
EDITORIAL

"Cebu is ready" but is it really?

The impending six-month closure of Boracay to allow that popular tourist destination time to
heal also means the disruption of travel plans for thousands of tourists. It means further that
most, if not all, of these tourists may consider other destinations, not the least of which is Cebu.
As a result, there has been a surge of preparations for such an eventuality. Indeed, the mantra on
everybody's lips is that "Cebu is ready."

But is Cebu really ready? If by "Cebu is ready" what is meant is the capability of the island to
take in and accommodate the tourists diverted from Boracay, the answer is of course yes. There
may be a few kinks here and there, but in the overall sense Cebu has long been prepared for a
deluge of tourists. That has always been the advantage of Cebu. It has always been primed as a
destination, not just for tourists, but for business, education, culture, etc.

In other words, there should not be a problem with accommodation that Cebu cannot adequately
handle. But there could be a different twist to "Cebu is ready" that it might not be truly prepared
for. This is the inward looking aspect of "Cebu is ready." Accommodating tourists is outward
bound, meaning can we accommodate tourists. The inward bound aspect of "Cebu is ready"
deals with Cebu's readiness to cope with what the tourists can do to our destinations.

A sudden surge of tourists can result in a number of things, consequences that can harm the
environment which prompted the closure of Boracay in the first place. It is not just the profits
from the closure of Boracay that requires the readiness of Cebu to cash in on. More importantly,
because of its longer-lasting effects, Cebu needs to be prepared for environmental issues that will
likely emerge from this turn of events.

Along this line, it might be asked if Cebu has in place enforceable environmental safeguards
necessary to keep Cebu relatively in the same condition when the tourists leave as when they
come in. Are the authorities responsible for enforcing these environmental safeguards ready and
prepared to do what are expected of them? Is everybody prepared to exercise political will over
the anticipated deluge of profits?

These questions, it is believed, are very important because they hark back to the original woes
that spelled the temporary downfall of Boracay. In Boracay, everybody was driven by the need
to cash in that everybody forgot to take care of their primary resource, their so-called goose that
lay the golden egg. Cebu's boon from Boracay's bane may only be temporary, only for as long as
Boracay is closed. But a lot of damage can be incurred in six months if Cebu is not careful.

(The Freeman) - April 11, 2018 - 12:00am

14
EDITORIAL

Benefits
An issue surfaced about whether or not the family of slain Police Officer 3 Jonathan Tilos, who
was ambushed in Alegria town Wednesday night, should receive benefits for his long years of
service as a member of the Philippine National Police.

This after it was learned that Tilos was actually in the list of policemen allegedly involved in the
illegal drug trade. He was allegedly linked to self-confessed Cebuano drug lord Franz Sabalones,
who surrendered to authorities.

The issue stemmed from the death of a police official who was earlier slain during an anti-drug
operation by the authorities in Mandaue City. Senior Inspector Raymund Hortezuela, who was
included on the list of 'narco-cops,' was killed when he allegedly tried to shoot it out with
operatives.

Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, director of Police Regional Office-7, said Hortezuela's
family will receive no benefits from the PNP. He stressed this will serve as a lesson to policemen
involved in drugs and other illegal activities.
However, in the case of Tilos, Senior Superintendent Manuel Abrugena, director of Cebu
Provincial Police Office, said whether or not Tilos' family is eligible to receive any benefit is up
to Camp Crame to decide.

But as far as PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde is concerned, Tilos is eligible for benefits if
no case has been filed against him. Albayalde said that families of slain cops allegedly linked to
illegal activities may receive benefits as long as they have no pending case in court.

Granting Tilos had no pending case related to illegal drugs or other crimes, his family should
receive the benefits for his long years in police service. His being on the narcolist was just an
accusation. He was still innocent until being proven guilty by the court.

15
As for Hortezuela, he was the subject of a buy-buy operation and even allegedly sold illegal
drugs to a poseur-buyer before he was killed by pursuing operatives. Therefore, it was just right
for the PNP leadership to withhold any benefits for him.

(The Freeman) - June 17, 2018 - 12:00am

16
EDITORIAL

Discipline

An American company is being eyed to help address Cebu City’s traffic concerns. Councilor
Jerry Guardo said they will seek the services of California-based Leotek in the city’s effort to
improve its traffic system.

If the plan pushes through, Leotek will install cameras at intersections in the city to monitor the
drivers. The project will initially have an intersection along Osmeña Boulevard as pilot area with
the firm sending personnel to the city this month for a test run.

The city officials learned about Leotek, a known maker of street signal lighting products and
solutions, during a recent visit to Taiwan where the firm installed cameras at intersections to
monitor motorists.

Such method has helped instill discipline among drivers in that neighboring country and Cebu
City officials hope to duplicate it in the city. According to Guardo – chairman of the City
Council committee on environment, energy, transportation, communication and other utilities –
the city will have Leotek manage the situation at that intersection along Osmeña Boulevard to
see if traffic will improve.

There’s really a need for the city to upgrade its outmoded traffic system, which can no longer
adequately cater to the increasing volume of vehicles. Since the system no longer functions
properly, this sometimes causes accidents.
The sooner City Hall fixes this problem, the sooner the public can adapt to the new system. That
is why authorities have to consider the urgency of putting up the new system, considering the
city’s worsening traffic problem.

In addition to the new system, local traffic authorities should also begin to intensify steps against
erring motorists and pedestrians. The new system is really of big help in the effort to discipline
everyone about the need to follow traffic regulations.

It would really be useless if, while the city embraces the modern monitoring traffic method, the
public continues to violate the rules. The bottom line is that it is still discipline that should be on
top of everything if we want the new system to succeed.
(The Freeman) - October 3, 2018 - 12:00am

17
EDITORIAL

Wage adjustment
It seems another round of wage hikes in Central Visayas is imminent with the concurrence of the
Regional Tripartite Productivity Board-7 about the need for a salary adjustment for workers in
the private sector.

All RTWPB-7 members have agreed to another take-home pay increase regionwide. But it
remains to be seen how much they will decide to approve. The decision will be known during
their deliberations on June 7.

Months ago, the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and the
Cebu Labor Coalition filed two wage petitions seeking for P120 and P155 salary adjustments,
respectively. The labor sector, however, has strongly opposed any increase, contending that it is
not a good idea in this time when many businesses are preoccupied with cost-cutting measures.

But we cannot blame the labor sector for insisting upon a new round of wage hikes. It's well
within their rights to air such clamor since we cannot deny the fact that they are now going
through a very tough time following the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and
Inclusion (TRAIN) Law early this year.
The TRAIN Law seems to have a very negative effect on the poor because it has some measures
that seek to increase taxes in some products. These measures have forced prices of basic
commodities to hike and effectively erased the income tax-free incentive that the government has
granted to minimum wage earners.

However, it is not only the labor sector that is suffering from the effects of TRAIN Law. The
increasing prices of fuel, among others, have also been taking toll on the business sector given
the rising cost of importation and transportation of materials.

Of course, the regional wage board was left with no option other than to hike the minimum
wage. But it should see to it that such adjustment is fair and reasonable to both sectors. Any
unjustified rate increase is certainly bad for business.

(The Freeman) - May 26, 2018 - 12:00am

18