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The government expects unemployment to ease in the second half as overall economic activity improves and infrastructure spending picks up, according to the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev).

‘We expect some recovery in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter. So that should improve,’ DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan told reporters when asked for an outlook on unemployment.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the unemployment rate rose to six percent in July, the highest since January and February 2022, when it reached 6.4 percent.

The unemployment rate translated to 3.14 million jobless Filipinos in July, higher than the 2.59 million in the previous month and in the same month last year.

Balisacan said that the deterioration in the labor market situation reflects the slowdown in economic growth observed in the second quarter.

Economic growth in the second quarter slowed to 2.3 percent, the weakest performance in five years, amid high inflation that dampened consumption and slower public infrastructure spending following the flood control controversy.

Balisacan said he expects better labor market conditions in the second half as economic activity improves.

‘In the third quarter, hopefully we can manage to go up a bit. But with the improvement in the economic activity in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter, I think the labor market will also adjust,’ he said.

He said that problems related to the slowdown in public construction are expected to be resolved as government infrastructure spending picks up.

Flood control corruption issues have led to the government’s stricter project review and delays in public infrastructure spending and project execution.

‘That is now gradually being unclogged,’ Balisacan said.

For GlobalSource Partners country analysts Diwa Guinigundo and Wilhelmina Manalac, the latest unemployment result should be treated by the government as an early warning signal, with the economy growing at a pace that may no longer be enough to comfortably absorb a rising labor force, while inflation remains elevated.

‘The policy priority should be to revive investment and productivity, strengthen sectors capable of creating quality employment and ensure that growth translates into better jobs and real income gains for Filipino households,’ Guinigundo and Manalac said in a report.

Management Association of the Philippines president Donald Lim said that hiring activity is guided by businesses’ outlook on the economy.

‘Business will always operate on a level of predictability and stability. If it is unpredictable and unstable, you will be conservative. Conservative means you will not hire first,’ he said.

He said that the country’s economic performance may be a reason why businesses are not hiring more workers.

Even if the economy recovers, he said that businesses are unlikely to immediately increase staff numbers.

He said that the emergence of new technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) is helping some employees perform the work without the need to hire additional staff.

While AI use is also expected to help create new jobs, he said that companies are currently in the transition period and these new jobs are still being determined.

Balisacan said the information technology – business process management industry is currently using AI to tap opportunities to provide higher value services.

‘That means that they’re working closely with other sectors, including the public sector, in upscaling their workforce. If we succeed in upscaling them, I don’t think that, and this is supported by the industry itself, that they (employees) will be replaced,’ he said.

Lim said that the country’s labor laws are also among the reasons that may be affecting hiring activity.

‘I think our labor laws are quite challenging versus other countries,’ he said.

Local labor laws protect employees’ security of tenure. As such, companies cannot just make immediate workforce adjustments or let employees go without complying with certain processes.

Lim said the minimum wage hike adjustment in the National Capital Region may also be another factor affecting hiring decisions, particularly of small and medium enterprises.

‘Business in general, maybe with technology and maybe whatever benefits the economy will give them, can give them a boost. But it does not now equate to hiring because hiring in the Philippines is hard. There are many conditions,’ he said.

University of the Philippines ripped Ateneo, 94-75, to seize the solo lead in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament yesterday before more than 12,000 fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Fighting Maroons clipped the Blue Eagles to only 10 points in the third quarter to break away from a slim 46-45 cushion and seal the smashing followup to their 92-85 debut win over Santo Tomas.

Former NCAA Finals MVP James Payosing sizzled with 16 points in only 15 minutes of play as UP, finalist in five straight seasons under Goldwin Monteverde, notched its seventh consecutive win over Ateneo in the Katipunan Derby since 2023.

Earlier, National U (1-1) gave coach Jeff Napa a nice birthday present in the form of a 76-56 drubbing of hapless University of the East (0-2), which absorbed its 22nd straight loss over the last three seasons.

The inspired Bulldogs broke the floodgates wide open, 25-8, to set the tone for the strong bounceback to their tough 87-89 defeat to titleholder La Salle in last week’s opener.

Reinhard Jumamoy led the Bulldogs’ offense with 12 points as the triple towers of Mo Diassana (12-12), Kenshin Padrones (11-7) and PJ Palacielo (9-12) feasted inside the paint.

The ramming by a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship of a Philippine civilian vessel can never be justified, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

‘There is no justification for the CCG vessel to undertake aggressive actions against a Philippine civilian law enforcement vessel and cause damage to the ship and endanger the safety of the civilian crew,’ the DFA said, referring to an incident on Friday off Palawan involving a CCG ship and the BRP Datu Magat Salamat, a law enforcement civilian vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

‘The Philippines emphasizes that the BFAR vessel was merely conducting routine and lawful humanitarian activities to support Filipino fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea,’ the DFA added.

The DFA noted that the CCG vessel’s ‘illegal, coercive, aggressive and dangerous acts are inconsistent with China’s obligations under international law, including UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) and the 1974 Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS).’

‘The Philippines calls on China to respect Philippine sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone in accordance with UNCLOS as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award, exercise restraint and avoid actions that could further escalate tensions in the region,’ the DFA said.

The allocation for emergency loan assistance for members and pensioners of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) displaced by flooding in Luzon and Mindanao has been increased to nearly P8 billion.

The state-run pension fund said the program covers 16 areas affected by the southwest monsoon and Typhoons Luis, Maymay and Neneng.

The expanded loan program applies to GSIS members and pensioners working or residing in areas declared under a state of calamity.

Deadline of application will be from Sept. 20 to Nov. 16, depending on affected areas.

Qualified borrowers with existing emergency loans may avail themselves of up to P40,000, with the outstanding balance of their existing loans to be deducted from the proceeds. Those with no existing emergency loan balance may borrow up to P20,000.

The loan is payable within 36 months and carries a corresponding interest rate of six percent.

Members and pensioners may apply through the GSIS Touch mobile app or check the state insure’s website for areas covered by the loan assistance program.

Three Baguio fighters are locked and loaded to make a splash in the debut of mixed martial arts at the Inae Sports Center in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games starting today.

Jean Claude (The Dynamite) Saclag, 31, takes to the mat in the 65kg traditional event while Carlos (Limitless) Alvarez, 27, battles in the 77kg traditional division and Gina (Conviction) Araos, 37, sees action in the 54kg modern class in quarterfinal matches today. Winners advance to the semifinals tomorrow and survivors go for gold on Tuesday.

The trio qualified for the Asiad through the qualifying 4th Asian Mixed Martial Arts Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, last May. Saclag and Araos won gold medals while Alvarez settled for bronze. Saclag’s victory was spectacular as he stopped Zhussupov Chingiz of Kazakhstan in the first round.

Traditional MMA fighters wear a gi, shin pads, open-finger gloves, mouthguards and groin guards (for men). Modern fighters wear shorts and rash guards (sleeveless for men, sleeved for women) insead of a gi. In Nagoya, the MMA coaches are Richard Lasprilla, Lester del Rosario and Rex de Lara.

MMA coach and practitioner Franco Rulloda is the only Filipino on the roster of the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Organization supervising the Nagoya event. He is a lecturer for sports federations regarding rules and regulations with the added responsibility of creating more MMA officials.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) is urging the government to reconsider its rule on the new Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) slots to include hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and gas-powered cars.

Sherwin Chua-Lim, senior vice president at TMP, told reporters that the automotive firm raised its concern on the TNVS rule with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) by writing a letter and requesting a meeting.

Under its Memorandum Circular (MC) 2026-084, the LTFRB opened 7,500 ride-hailing slots for the National Capital Region.

These additional 7,500 slots will be exclusive for EVs such as plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs) and battery EVs (BEVs).

‘Conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) other than PHEVs, and other vehicle technologies that do not fall within the BEV or PHEV classifications shall not be eligible for the slots opened herein,’ the LTFRB MC read.

Acting LTFRB chairman Greg Pua Jr. earlier said the move aligns with the government’s push for modern, environment-friendly public transportation.

TMP is pushing for a reconsideration, noting that HEVs are part of EVs being recognized by the government.

‘Republic Act 11697 or the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA) recognizes HEVs as part of the EV classification,’ TMP said.

‘Furthermore, the Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS) also includes HEVs as part of the country’s vehicle electrification strategy,’ it added.

The EVIDA aims to accelerate EV adoption in the country, while EVIS seeks to encourage local EV manufacturing by providing incentives.

TMP also pushed to include ICE vehicles in the new TNVS slots.

‘We also believe modern low-displacement engine technologies in today’s compact ICE vehicles have significantly improved in terms of fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. Including these vehicles in the options can benefit both the operators and the riding public,’ TMP said.

TMP produces ICE vehicles such as the Vios, Innova and Tamaraw at its plant in Santa Rosa, Laguna. In addition to its locally produced models, TMP’s vehicle lineup includes HEVs.

Senators are calling for immediate action following another school shooting incident, this time at a high school in South Cotabato that left three students dead on Friday.

‘I call on the executive department, the Department of Education, the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies: this is becoming repetitive! Do something about it,’ Sen. Bong Go said.

Go filed Senate Bill 2413 or the Safe Schools and Violence Prevention Bill, which provides for a National Safe Schools Framework covering anti-bullying measures, mental health support, campus access control, risk assessment and incident command for students and personnel, among others.

The bill is pending before the Senate committee on basic education chaired by Sen. Bam Aquino.

In his statement, Aquino condemned the latest school violence, which came on the heels of similar shootings in Tacloban City in June and in Zamboanga City in August.

‘We are calling on the government to quickly ensure the safety of our schools and communities for the welfare of students and teachers,’ he said.

Aquino is seeking the passage of the Comprehensive School Safety Act, which aims to require schools to bolster security by hiring more personnel and installing more closed-circuit televisions and metal detectors.

For her part, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said school shootings ‘cannot be our new normal.’

Authorities, Hontiveros said, should focus on different facets of child development, factoring in mental health, gun access and the prevalence of social media.

She also reiterated her warning on the dangers of nihilistic violent extremism (NVE), seen by law enforcers as a factor that triggered school shootings in Tacloban and Zamboanga.

Hontiveros cited the proposed SAGIP Bata Act, which seeks to require online platforms to appoint a Philippine representative authorized to receive subpoenas, take down orders, request for account information and other directives from the government.

‘But one measure will never be enough,’ Hontiveros said. ‘The government needs to do a real accounting of how we are failing our children.’

Neglect

For the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), the shooting at the Banga National High School (BNHS) in South Cotabato exposed government neglect of public schools.

‘Let us not blame teachers or video games for this tragedy simply to cover up the government’s negligence. We are in dire need of guidance counselors as well as mental health and psychosocial programs, yet where are they? Priority is instead given to drills and the deployment of police forces – who are also known for sowing violence,’ ACT Philippines chairperson Ruby Bernardo said.

She added that the prevalence of school violence cannot be separated from the chronic neglect the education sector has been suffering for long.

She noted that under the 2026 budget, the Department of Education created 10,000 School Counselor Associate (SCA) I positions translating to roughly one counselor associate for every 2,600 learners nationwide.

She said that while DepEd reported around 5,000 registered guidance counselors in early 2026, no more than 1,000 were actually employed across roughly 50,000 public schools.

‘With only one counselor for every 2,600 students nationwide – a situation where the number of counselors and school security personnel is already woefully inadequate – education funding is set to be slashed further,’ Bernardo said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) has promised to shoulder the hospital bills of the victims in the BNHS shooting.

‘We will assist. We will pay the bills. We will put it under MAIFIP (Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients) and the President will take care of it,’ DOH Undersecretary Mary Ann Maestral said.

The DOH is also deploying mental health teams to handle cases of trauma among students and teachers.

‘We take care of the mental health also, we have teams for that. They are ready. It depends where do the teachers want the debriefing to take place,’ Maestral said.