Lower House conducts hearing on DOLE’s 2025 budget proposal

Transcript

00:00The Department of Labor and Employment's allocation for next year took a trim from

00:03the pruning shears of Budget Secretary Amena Pangandaman. More than a quarter,

00:08or precisely 26.2 percent, from this year's budget was shaved. And what's true pushback

00:13from the House panel seeking to restore much, if not all of the $16 billion spending cuts,

00:19as our Denise Osorio reports. Some members of the House of Representatives questioned

00:26the Department of Labor and Employment during today's Committee on Appropriations hearing

00:30on some of the contents of their $45 billion budget proposal for next year.

00:35Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez raised concern over the

00:40proposed budget being slashed of over a quarter, or precisely 26.2 percent,

00:45of this year's budget from the National Expenditure Program.

00:48If you compare the GAAP for 2024, which is $61 billion, it has been reduced to only $45 billion.

01:03From $20 billion, reduced, and we have reduced by $3 billion. Don't you agree, our colleague,

01:11that this should be restored? Yes, Mr. Chair, Madam Chair. It should be

01:16restored and perhaps increased, if possible, given the different and increasing mandates

01:22being given to test staff. On the other hand, OFW Party List

01:26Representative Marisa Magsino brought attention to the mental health of workers in their respective

01:31jobs. Magsino stressed on Dollar's Department Order 208 Series of 2020, which indicates an

01:37employee with a mental health condition cannot be dismissed solely for such reason.

01:47Meanwhile, Pangasinan 4th District Representative Christopher Devenesha addressed the security

01:58and protection of freelance workers, such as those in the creative and media industry. But

02:03according to Dollar, the budget provided for this sector is determined and allocated by the

02:08tripartite councils.

02:38Eventually, concerns over the minimum wage increase was discussed again,

02:51emphasizing on the country's current minimum wage grossly incompatible to a living wage

02:55that responds to the real needs of Filipinos.

03:08So, of course, the food threshold is different per region. If these indicators

03:16are given by the PSA or NEDA or our economic tactic tank, it will be very low and not realistic.

03:30Naturally, our determination of the minimum wage will follow there.

03:37The minimum is only entry-level floor wage. That's what Dollar wants to take care of,

03:45that there will be no decrease in floor wage. That's why the increase of regional tripartite

03:53wages and productivity boards, as mentioned earlier, are not only based on needs,

03:59but also on ability and employment.

04:01The Dollar accentuated on the most important right of a worker, which is the right to work,

04:06and called to negotiate wages such as of skilled workers who should be entitled to higher pay.

04:12Denise Osorio, from the National Television Network, for a new and better Philippines.