Context Dispatch

The House Committee on Labor and Employment has approved a bill mandating a P200 daily across-the-board wage increase for private sector workers, marking a significant step forward in the push for higher wages. 

Majority or 59% of Filipinos are satisfied with the Marcos Jr. Administration, according to results from the latest Social Weather Stations survey. The survey was conducted from December 12 to 18, 2024, using face-to-face interviews with 2,160 respondents nationwide, and has a ±2 margin of error. 

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez affirmed today that the House of Representatives is expediting deliberations on proposed wage hike legislation to address the urgent need for economic relief, while ensuring a balanced approach that considers the welfare of workers and the sustainability of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

In 2025, increasing international support is emerging for stronger maritime security partnerships with the Philippines, driven by ongoing tensions over China's aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea. Ambassadors from key nations, including France, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, the European Union, and Australia, convened at a maritime security forum organized by the Stratbase Institute and the French Embassy in Manila.

In a significant move for rice consumers, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. announced on Friday that the Department of Agriculture (DA) will gradually lower the maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for imported rice in the coming weeks.