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A complicated web of issues which includes weather-based disasters heavily affects the sectors whose jobs involve weather conditions due to the ineffective and inadequate infrastructure that are equipped for disasters like floods. This is why, more than ever, we should not just fight for labor issues in the country, but also surrounding factors that generally affect many aspects of livelihood and living conditions, like disaster risk readiness.

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“Sectors that saw the biggest job losses, meanwhile, are agriculture and forestry (1.56 million), manufacturing (387,000), other service activities (166,000), and wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (106,000). Mapa said the agriculture sector continued to be affected by typhoons, with 557,000 losing their jobs growing rice in paddy fields. Some 424,000 Filipinos also lost their jobs in planting, transplanting, and other related activities” (Balaoing & Fuentes, 2025).

Balaoing, B. & Fuentes, A. (2025, February 6). Unemployment dips, underemployment edges up in December. ABS-CBN News. https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/2/6/unemployment-slightly-falls-in-december-0942

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Unemployment dips, underemployment edges up in December | ABS-CBN News

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The Philippines’ unemployment rate was 3.1 percent in December.

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Economic Inequality in the Philippines: An Urgent Need for Reform

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Economic Inequality in the Philippines: An Urgent Need for Reform

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In the Philippines, economic inequality is evident wherever you go; the signs of inequality can be found anywhere in the country. Even just outside of Ateneo, you will encounter numerous people living in poverty or begging for change

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Challenging Contractualization: A Call for Job Security

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Challenging Contractualization: A Call for Job Security

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As a Filipino citizen, I see how contractualization creates job instability, depriving workers of fair wages and benefits. This system prioritizes corporate profit over people’s well-being, leaving many in uncertainty. Understanding its impact allows us to push for fair labor policies that uphold dignity and long-term employment for all.

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“Espiritu stressed the urgent need to end contractualization as a solution to the country’s persistent labor issues, which he said, can only be achieved by abolishing manpower agencies. “Kailangan nating ma-resolve ang matagal nang problema ng ating mga manggagawa na ginagawa silang contractual both sa public and private employment. ‘Yung mga manpower agencies na ‘yan, ‘yan ay walang silbi sa ating ekonomiya, puro mga linta ‘yan,” he said during an election forum at Far Eastern University – Institute of Technology (FEU-IT) on Wednesday.” (as cited in Manalo, 2025)

Manalo, J. (2025, February 19). Senatorial bet Espiritu to manpower agencies: We will exterminate you. Philippine Daily Inquirer. https://www.inquirer.net/429548/senatorial-bet-espiritu-to-manpower-agencies-we-will-exterminate-you

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MANILA, Philippines - "To all manpower agencies, you better pray. Because we will exterminate you-useless and parasitic entities."

This was the statement of senatorial candidate and labor leader Luke Espiritu when asked how he would address unemployment and underemployment if elected.

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Espiritu stressed the urgent need to end contractualization as a solution to the country's persistent labor issues, which he said, can only be achieved by abolishing manpower agencies.

"Kailangan nating ma-resolve ang matagal nang problema ng ating mga manggagawa na ginagawa silang contractual both sa public and private employment. 'Yung mga manpower agencies na 'yan, 'yan ay walang silbi sa ating ekonomiya, puro mga linta 'yan," he said during an election forum at Far Eastern University - Institute of Technology (FEU-IT) on Wednesday.

(We need to resolve the longstanding problem of workers being made contractual in both public and private employment. These manpower agencies are useless to our economy, they are nothing but leeches.)
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Espiritu further argued that manpower agencies do not contribute to the country's economy and only exploit workers by taking a cut from their wages.
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"Pagka kami nasa Senado, hindi kami nagbibiro. Ang mga manpower agencies na 'yan, magdasal na kayo. Dahil talagang pupuksain namin kayo-mga walang silbi, mga parasitiko," he warned.

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(Once we are in the Senate, we are not joking. These manpower agencies better start praying because we will exterminate them-they are useless and parasitic.)

"Sila ay simpleng added layer parasitic na namumorsiyento sa sweldo ng mga manggagawa," he added.

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(They are simply an added parasitic layer that takes a cut from workers' salaries.)

The labor leader also criticized former President Rodrigo Duterte for failing to fulfill his campaign promise to end contractualization.

"Ang tagal na namin pinaglalaban yan. Si Duterte, nangako, pupuksain niya ang kontraktwalisasyon. Siya ang unang budul-budul," Espiritu said.

(We have been fighting for this for so long. Duterte promised to end contractualization, but he was the first to scam us.)
READ: Duterte promise to end 'endo' a 'farce' - labor groups
He reiterated that manpower agencies are not real businesses and do nothing to benefit workers

"Kailangan puksain ang mga ganyang klaseng business na "non-business" and totally useless, at palayain natin ang ating mga manggagawa sa tanikala ng kontraktwalisasyon na 'yan," he said.

(We need to eliminate these so-called businesses that are non-businesses and totally useless, and free our workers from the chains of contractualization.)

To end contractualization and provide sustainable jobs, job security, and livable wages, Espiritu said the government must shift its focus to a production-based economy.

"Dapat nagke-create tayo ng ekonomiya na nakabase sa produksyon. Hindi 'yung ganyan na business ang pinapalaki natin. Produksyon. At para magkaroon tayo ng produksyon, unahin natin ang agrikultura... na may agricultural production tayo. Kailangan ng reporma sa lupa," he concluded.

(We should create an economy based on production, not one that prioritizes these kinds of businesses. Production should be our focus, and to achieve that, we must prioritize agriculture... we need agricultural production. We need land reform.)

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Senatorial bet Espiritu to manpower agencies: We will exterminate you

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"To all manpower agencies, you better pray. Because we will exterminate you-useless and parasitic entities."

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Purugganan, J. (2022, May 18). Precarious Road Ahead: The Continuing Struggle of Workers against Contractualization in the Philippines. Focus On The Global South. https://focusweb.org/precarious-road-ahead-the-continuing-struggle-of-workers-against-contractualization-in-the-philippines/

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Precarious Road Ahead: The Continuing Struggle of Workers against Contractualization in the Philippines | Focus on the Global South

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Unemployed Individuals and Unemployment Rates Graph

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Balaoing, B. & Fuentes, A. (2025, February 6). Unemployment dips, underemployment edges up in December. ABS-CBN News. https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/2/6/unemployment-slightly-falls-in-december-0942

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Small Hands, Big Burdens: The Issue of Child Labor 

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Small Hands, Big Burdens: The Issue of Child Labor 

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I often see young children outside my house selling sampaguita or working as street vendors instead of being at school. I believe that child labor is a significant issue in the Philippines since many kids are working instead of studying which deprives them from education and a chance for a better future. This doesn’t only affect the children but also contributes to the cycle of poverty by making it harder for families and communities to develop economically and socially.

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“Romanillos said that Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data shows there are around 1,200 child laborers in the region which they are validating to identify where they are and in what sectors they are working.”

Agoot, L. (2025, February 25). DOLE, CAR boost partnership for holistic approach to child labor. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1244863

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DOLE, CAR boost partnership for holistic approach to child labor

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The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is strengthening its partnership and advocacy programs with other government agencies and sectors to provide a holistic solution to child labor. Imelda Romanillos, director of the…

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"Survey data reveal that 74 percent of respondents in the Philippines want major changes to the economic system. This, as 52 percent of Filipinos believe that the gap between the rich and the poor is a “very big problem” in the country, close to the 36-country median of 54 percent."

"Pew says 89 percent of those polled in the Philippines perceive that the main cause of inequality in the country is “too much political influence” of rich people."

Cigaral, I. N. P. (2025, January 19). Poll: Rich hogging political clout seen driving PH inequality. Philippine Daily Inquirer https://business.inquirer.net/502005/poll-rich-hogging-political-clout-seen-driving-ph-inequality

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Poll: Rich hogging political clout seen driving PH inequality

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In 2022, the year a new administration took over, the World Bank (WB) came out with an important report on the Philippines. While there had been important gains in poverty reduction, WB had said

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Philippine Information Agency (2025, February 5). The DepartmentLabor  of Labor and Employment - DOLE –Cordillera Administrative Region (DOLE-CAR) consistently pursues programs and activities to eliminate child labor in partnership [Image attached]. Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dt5hku8Te/?mibextid=wwXIfr

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Cigaral, I. N. P. (2025, January 19). Poll: Rich hogging political clout seen driving PH inequality. Philippine Daily Inquirer https://business.inquirer.net/502005/poll-rich-hogging-political-clout-seen-driving-ph-inequality

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Layoffs, especially those on a big scale by multinational companies, affect entire cities and communities that rely on plants like Coca-Cola for livelihood.  As someone whose dad got laid off by a multinational before I can sympathize with how the workers are affected by the lay off, especially how some of them will have families to feed.

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"Gomez accused Coca-Cola Cebu of circumventing labor laws by replacing Exel-Tech with Xisco, effectively firing workers without regularizing them.

Under Dole Department Order 174, Series of 2017, labor-only contracting occurs when contractors lack substantial capital, investments, or supervision, and their workers perform tasks integral to the principal company’s main business operations. This practice is prohibited under Section 5 of the order.

The union contends that the looming layoffs are a deliberate attempt to exploit “end of contract” clauses, sidestepping regularization mandates from the Dole 7" (Flores, 2025).

Flores, C. (2025, January 22). Labor Union: Layoffs loom for Coca-Cola Cebu Workers. SunStar Publishing Inc. https://www.sunstar.com.ph/amp/story/cebu/labor-union-layoffs-loom-for-coca-cola-cebu-workers

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Labor Union: Layoffs loom for Coca-Cola Cebu Workers

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MORE than 200 workers at Coca-Cola Cebu face potential layoffs on Feb. 11, 2025, less than 20 days away, according to a labor union. Some of the affected worker