Wages and wizards

The order of the President to review the wages of the labor sector is timely in the light of the economic conditions now prevailing in the country. In support of this, I think the immediate convening of all regional wage boards would be best to make a review of the particular conditions in their areas of responsibilities. Since the last meeting of the board, many local market and economic conditions have undergone radical changes.

Living conditions vary from region to region or even from province to province. The best place to start would be to review the living conditions and income potentials of the 10 poorest provinces in the Philippines and see how they impact on the rest of the country. Hindsight tells us that it does not necessarily mean that because a town or province is considered poor, the living conditions there are likewise in a state of destitution. There are poor provinces whose living conditions are better than in some parts of Metro Manila. In the metropolis, one needs money for everything because everything has a price and one has to buy everything. In remote and poor provinces, people survive easily by merely going out in the fields and gathering root crops to augment their daily fare, cash-free. 

If the wage boards can come up with a realistic determination of the natural living conditions and the needs of the people in each area, I am quite certain the wage requirements in different regions may be defined and we would discover that they differ from place to place. This would be more realistic than a nationwide across-the-board wage increase. But whatever the decision of the board will be, we must be sure the government can afford to shoulder the increases, in the same manner that private capital or management can afford to underwrite the added costs. Otherwise, we would be killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. 

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There was a rather funny news item in a couple of broadsheets on April 16 which identified me as “ailing.” Of course, there is nothing farther from the truth. Although I underwent a
serious kidney transplant several months ago, I am in very good shape. For the benefit of the writer who has usurped my expert doctors from NKTI in making his prognosis about me, my creatinine is 1.0. Ang sa kanya kaya?

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The campaign against unscrupulous rice traders is now in full swing with the initial filing  by the NBI and the DOJ of criminal charges against 13 suspected traders. On April 15, this was announced by the President during a Cabinet meeting held at the DOJ where the focus was rice supply and how to prevent unscrupulous forces from taking advantage of the anticipated crisis, as well as those who want to make a pile at the expense of the people. 

I have issued a fair warning regarding my mandate from the President and I assure the people that I will not hesitate to throw the book, including the kitchen sink, at people who want to take advantage of the rice crisis to enrich themselves.

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Archbishop Oscar Cruz claims the filing of libel charges against him was designed to silence him because he is a critic of the administration. Unfortunately, Archbishop Cruz does not understand what he is talking about. He is charged with violating our libel laws and the people he has libeled are entitled to the same protection of the law from loud-mouthed persons, even if they are archbishops. Still, I would like to reiterate to this prelate who reminds me of Caiap has, who condemned Jesus in biblical times, that the best way for him to prove how important he is is to defrock himself and run for a Senate seat so that we will know, once and for all, if he has the mandate of the people. 

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Our congratulations to the new Filipino achievers: Archbishop Osvaldo Padilla, the first Filipino appointed by the Vatican as Apostolic Nuncio and soon to be posted in Seoul; and 14-year-old Wesley So, the world’s youngest grandmaster, who exhibited his chess wizardry to rule the Dubai competition. We are all proud of you!

IT would have sent a strong and useful signal to one and all that her administration meant business in cracking down on those who take advantage of the present food crunch, especially in staples like rice, flour and sugar, to make obscene profits at the public’s expense, but the President’s dramatics at the Bureau of Customs (BOJ) on Monday was uncalled for.

On April 26, intellectual-property offices around the globe will celebrate the 8th World IP Day. “On World Intellectual Property Day, we pay tribute to the inventors and artists, great and small, who enrich our existence with the fruits of their innovative thoughts and creative vision,” World Intellectual Property Organization director general Kamil Idris said.

ONE month ago, on March 14, the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) closed at 2904.73. As of this writing, the market closed at 2,904.73. I know that it is just coincidental, but I wrote back then that the market should fall another 10 percent. In fact, I said it needed to fall another 10 percent before there would be a great buying opportunity.

Tax Law for Business: Applying for relief from double taxation

The granting of an exemption from Philippine taxes is one relief taxpayers may avail themselves of to avoid the burden of double taxation.

About Town: DENR leads the way

When it comes to fighting corruption and upholding transparency and accountability, it’s the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that’s way ahead of other government agencies.

Reflections from the Mirror: Wages and wizards

The order of the President to review the wages of the labor sector is timely in the light of the economic conditions now prevailing in the country.

Alálaong bagá: On ecclesiality and subsidiarity

Bonded together by their faith in Jesus as their Savior, Christians have the responsibility to respect the diversity of cultures, opinions and theologies constituting the Church (Acts 6:1-7).