Category: Business Mirror

SEN. Francis Escudero’s proposal to fix the tenure of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to five years to ensure long-term stability in grassroots governance has received multisectoral support.

At Monday’s public hearing of the Senate Sub-Committee on Local Government presided by Escudero, representatives from the Liga ng mga Barangay, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, and the National Youth Commission (NYC) expressed their strong support for the bill aimed at institutionalizing the five-year term and breaking the cycle of frequent postponement of barangay and SK polls.

‘My bill does not extend. My bill fixes,’ Escudero told the public hearing which was also attended by officials of the Commission on Elections and relevant government agencies, and members of civil society groups. ‘The natural effect will, of course, be to postpone the upcoming election, but the subject matter of this bill is fixing the term, not just postponement.’

Escudero emphasized that barangay governments, as the frontline of public service, need longer terms to sustain community development, disaster response, and peace and order programs without election disruptions.

According to NYC representative Eriven Nepomuceno, the proposed measure is a ‘strategic progression to ensure that local officials have sufficient time to implement meaningful community programs and improve public service delivery.’

Councilor Jose Maria Rodriguez, who represented the Liga ng mga Barangay, said they ‘respectfully manifests its position in favor of a consolidated measure fixing the term of office of elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan at five years and establishing a definite election schedule corresponding to that term.’

Senate Bill 2387 reiterates existing termlimit rules: barangay officials may serve up to three consecutive terms, while SK officials are restricted to only one term. Those already on their third consecutive term cannot run in the November 2028 elections.

According to Escudero, counting existing terms ensures fairness, preventing incumbents from benefiting from an outright extension.

The hearing agenda also included SB 2067 filed by Sen. Imelda Josefa Remedios Marcos, which seeks to postpone the November 2026 Barangay and SK elections to October 2027, citing economic and logistical constraints.

Escudero directed the committee secretariat to draft a report reflecting the amendments and resource persons’ inputs, which is expected to be completed this week for deliberation in the plenary.

‘Subject to the amendments proposed by the parties which we shall consider-including the decoupling, the Comelec’s points on appropriations and the election date, as well as the position of PPCRV and Namfrel that elections proceed as scheduled with the fiveyear term to begin thereafter-we shall reflect these in the committee report,’ he also said.

Basketball fans in the Philippines will have the chance to meet two of the sport’s biggest names, as vivo Philippines brings NBA and WNBA legends Jason Kidd and Lauren Jackson to Manila for an exclusive fan meet-and-greet on August 28, 2026.

Set to take place from 5 PM to 6 PM at the vivo Concept Store in SM Megamall Building B, the event will feature on-stage conversations, fan interactions, and an opportunity for selected fans to meet Kidd and Jackson in person.

Only 15 fans will be selected to attend the meet-and-greet, with each selected fan receiving an official photo opportunity and a signed poster. How to join

To get a chance to be part of the event, fans simply need to:

Follow vivo Philippines on Facebook.

Comment ‘vivo Meet and Greet with Jason and Lauren’ on the designated Facebook post

Use the hashtags #vivoxNBA and #vivoX300Ultra

The event will be hosted by KC Montero, who will lead conversations with the two basketball icons and give fans an opportunity to hear about their experiences in the game.

Jackson is a three-time WNBA MVP, two-time WNBA champion, five-time Olympic medalist, FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup champion, and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer. She also made her return to the Paris 2024 Olympics after an eight-year break from basketball.

Kidd, meanwhile, is an NBA champion, 10-time NBA All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer. A celebrated point guard known for his court vision and playmaking, he later continued his career as an NBA coach.

Bringing the experience closer with the vivo X300 Ultra

The event will also spotlight the vivo X300 Ultra, vivo’s flagship smartphone equipped with Triple ZEISS Master Lenses, including an 85mm ZEISS Gimbal-Grade APO Telephoto Camera.

Designed to bring distant subjects closer, the X300 Ultra’s imaging capabilities make it well-suited for capturing moments from sporting events and other experiences where getting closer to the action isn’t always possible.

For fans who can’t make it to the vivo Concept Store on August 28, the experience will continue online through the vivo Philippines Facebook page on August 29, from 5 PM to 6 PM with the action captured using the vivo X300 Ultra.

Click ‘Going’ on the Facebook Event and turn on notifications to get alerted once the livestream goes LIVE.

Viewers can also join a separate online giveaway by commenting ‘vivo Meet and Greet with Jason and Lauren’ and using #vivoxNBA and #vivoX300Ultra for a chance to win NBA merchandise for free.

A MEMBER of the House Committee on Economic Affairs is pushing Congress to permanently ban goods made through forced labor, saying the Philippines should not wait for trade penalties from the United States to act against what he called ‘modern-day slavery.’

Albay Rep. Raymond Adrian E. Salceda is seeking the immediate passage of House Bill 10848, or the Act Prohibiting the Trade of Goods Produced Wholly or in Part with Forced Labor and Providing Penalties Therefor, which would establish a permanent statutory ban on the entry and trade of forced-labor goods in the Philippines.

‘This is not simply about avoiding tariffs or protecting our exports. There is a moral issue when we allow products made through forced labor and exploitation to enter our market. When we buy and trade these products, the suffering of other people becomes part of our supply chain,’ Salceda said.

His call comes after the Office of the United States Trade Representative determined on June 2, 2026, that the Philippines, along with other economies, had failed to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced through forced labor.

The United States subsequently imposed an additional 12.5 percent tariff on Philippine products, subject to specified exemptions. The additional duties took effect on July 24.

Salceda, however, stressed that the proposed legislation should not be viewed simply as a measure to address the US tariff.

‘Even if there were no tariff, this is still a law worth passing. We should prohibit products made through forced labor because we believe exploitation is wrong, not merely because another country is asking us to,’ he said.

The Executive Branch has already established an inter-agency mechanism to investigate imported goods suspected of being produced through forced labor.

Salceda said, however, that administrative action must be reinforced by legislation that provides a clear and permanent legal framework.

‘Fair trade requires fair labor. Otherwise, responsible businesses and workers are effectively being penalized for doing the right thing,’ he said.

Under HB 10848, the importation of goods produced wholly or partly through forced labor would be expressly prohibited. The measure would also authorize the Bureau of Customs to exclude and forfeit such goods, impose corresponding penalties, and institutionalize permanent inter-agency coordination for implementation and enforcement.

Salceda said the proposed ban would also protect Filipino businesses and workers from unfair competition.

He noted that companies that pay fair wages and comply with labor standards should not be forced to compete with cheaper products whose low costs are driven by the exploitation of workers.

Salceda said forced labor is not merely a Philippine-US trade issue but a global problem affecting supply chains across industries.

The US Department of Labor’s latest published list identifies 204 goods from 82 countries and areas that it has reason to believe are produced using child labor or forced labor. These include agricultural products such as sugarcane, cotton, coffee, rice and fish, as well as manufactured goods such as garments, textiles and footwear.

The International Labor Organization estimates that 27.6 million people were living in forced labor on any given day in 2021, an increase of 2.7 million from 2016.

Forced labor in the private economy generates an estimated $236 billion in illegal profits each year, with traffickers and other perpetrators earning close to $10,000 per victim annually, according to the ILO.

While Salceda acknowledged the economic impact of the additional US tariff, he said protecting Philippine exporters and jobs should be pursued alongside stronger labor protections.

‘Of course, we want to protect Philippine exporters, Filipino jobs, and our competitiveness in the US market. A 12.5 percent additional tariff has real consequences for our industries,’ Salceda said.

But he maintained that the tariff should not be the primary justification for the legislation.

The law, he said, would send a broader message that Philippine trade policy will not tolerate exploitation and that economic growth should not come at the expense

of workers’ rights.

‘Trade should create prosperity without sacrificing human dignity. No cheaper product, higher profit, or commercial advantage can justify forced labor. The Philippines should be unequivocal on that principle, and our laws should be equally clear,’ Salceda said.

AUTOMOTIVE giant Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) accounted for P23.66 billion in customs duties and taxes collected by the Bureau of Customs-Port of Batangas (BOC-POB) from January to July, making it the district’s largest import revenue contributor during the period.

The remittances represented 16.4 percent of the port’s total revenue collection for the first seven months of the year, according to BOC-POB data.

TMP’s contribution came as the company reported weaker financial results, with net income falling to P8.4 billion as revenues declined 15 percent to P115.4 billion.

‘While TMP’s remittances for the period eased compared to the same period last year, it reflects broader macroeconomic headwinds and demand softening stemming from the energy crisis experienced during the first seven months of 2026,’ the company said in a statement.

The vehicle manufacturer said it remained the primary revenue contributor to the Port of Batangas despite ‘market adjustments.’

Its import and trade operations are supported by the Batangas Vehicle Center, located near the port, as well as its status as an Authorized Economic Operator Level 2-certified company. The Port of Batangas recorded the highest collection among the BOC’s 17 collection districts from January to July, according to BOC-POB District Collector Carmelita Talusan.

The port’s performance formed part of a broader increase in customs collections during the period. In July alone, the BOC collected P95.848 billion, 12.5 percent higher than the P85.180 billion recorded a year earlier and 5.2 percent above its P91.070-billion target.

The Port of Batangas collected P23.290 billion in July, the highest among the BOC’s 17 districts and the largest single-month collection in its 69-year history.

TMP’s remittance for the first seven months of the year was equivalent to roughly one-sixth of the port’s total collections during the period.

The Philippines ranks 43rd out of 47 economies in an index measuring which countries are positioned to profit from artificial intelligence. The score is 21 out of 100. Granted, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a bloc is not a leader in the AI boom. The Philippine score of 21 is not much worse than Thailand’s 27, Vietnam’s 25, or Indonesia’s 23.

What separates the Philippines from other Asian economies ranked above it is that those countries dedicated recent years to cultivating the sectors where AI generates value: semiconductor fabrication, cloud and data-center infrastructure, pipelines of skilled technical workers, and strategic roles within global chip supply chains.

The Philippines instead devoted that same period to protecting its call center operations.

Regional trade figures for the past year illustrate the gap in real terms. Electronic exports from Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia expanded at double-digit rates, driven by global demand for artificial intelligence hardware and advanced semiconductor packaging. Philippine electronic exports grew too, but at a fraction of that pace, an assembly sector still weighted toward legacy microchips rather than the high-density computing components the AI buildout actually requires.

In the 1930s, France poured enormous resources into the Maginot Line, an extensive network of fortresses strung along the German frontier. Its purpose was to ensure that the trench warfare that never moved in World War One could not be repeated. Heavy artillery positions, subterranean barracks, and overlapping kill zones with every element calibrated to win a repeat of the previous conflict this time around. The fortifications themselves performed excellently. The problem was that the Wehrmacht simply walked around the Line through Belgium and overran France in roughly six weeks. The defenses were intimidating, but they had been engineered for a war that no longer existed.

The Philippine business process outsourcing (BPO) sector functions as the nation’s own Maginot Line. Erected over roughly 20 years to counter the competitive threat of cheaper English-speaking labor pools elsewhere that actually loomed at the time, the strategy delivered a decisive victory. Today the industry directly supports approximately 1.8 million jobs, generates close to US$40 billion in annual export earnings, and contributes somewhere a generous percent of national GDP. No competing low-cost destination managed to knock the Philippines off its call-center dominance. Against the threat it anticipated, the country triumphed completely.

Artificial intelligence is not attacking from that direction. The bulk of Philippine BPO income still flows from contact-center and customer-experience work, the exact segment where AI chatbots and automated voice agents are progressing most rapidly and at a lower marginal cost. Unlike its human counterparts, software does not quit, miss work in bad weather, or need health insurance. The barricades raised to repel the previous generation of competitors were never engineered to withstand this one.

India provides a good comparison, not because it is insulated from disruption, but because it constructed multiple layers of defense. Alongside its outsourcing base, India fostered the growth of Global Capability Centers dedicated to software engineering, product design, and higher-complexity business processes, creating alternative employment for workers whose routine tasks were automated. The Philippines possesses similar positions in specialized healthcare BPO and premium-tier customer support, where regulatory requirements and the need for more flexible human judgment keep full automation in check.

Yet these segments represent only about 20 percent of the industry’s total activity. The rest remains established in repetitive customer-experience and back-office functions, fully AI exposed, with no second line of defense. Without India’s deeper bench of engineering talent to absorb the workers automation displaces, the Philippines has little to redeploy them into.

None of this should have come as a surprise, and that fact strips away any credible excuse. The trajectory of AI-led automation in call center operations has been plainly visible for years, debated openly at every industry gathering that cheered the sector’s expansion. Developing a deeper technical ecosystem to absorb displaced workers, the Philippine counterpart to India’s Global Capability Centers, was a policy option that was always on the table and ignored. Instead, the existing fortress received more reinforcement: higher walls along a border no adversary intended to cross.

France lost in 1940 despite exhaustive preparation, because that preparation was aimed with total certainty at a threat that had already changed. The Philippines has constructed something genuinely impressive in BPO, building an exceptionally successful economic specialization around labor arbitrage. But AI changes the value of labor arbitrage itself. The question it now faces is whether being impressive against yesterday’s threat carries much value against the one bearing down today, and how many years it is prepared to lose finding out the answer.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is allowing the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to complete the Amlan-Dumaguete 138-kiloVolt (kV) transmission line project by March 2027.

‘NGCP’s prayer to reconsider the Commission’s directive requiring NGCP to complete the project on or before September 5, 2024, and to reconsider a new estimated time of completion on March 31, 2027 is granted,’ the ERC’s 20-page order stated.

NGCP was also ordered to pay permit fees amounting to P14,167,262.59.

As of February 2026, the said project has achieved a 64-percent progress rate.

‘In view of the foregoing circumstances and the issues raised by NGCP in its motion for partial reconsideration and supplemental motion, and taking into consideration the operational need to ensure adequate transmission support for the affected areas, the commission finds it reasonable to adopt March 31, 2027, as the revised target completion date of the Amlan-Dumaguete 138kV transmission line project,’ the ERC ruled.

The NGCP said it encountered several challenges in the implementation of the project, particularly delays executing the writ of possession, issues with the local government, and difficulties in obtaining the necessary permits and clearances.

The same ERC order stated that NGCP may carry out the Siaton-Bayawan 138-kV transmission line project ahead of the commission’s approval only after it has secured a certificate of energy project of national significance from the Department of Energy (DOE).

Moreover, the ERC ordered NGCP to submit a detailed quarterly progress report of the projects.

‘The NGCP shall implement all necessary measures to mitigate the operational impact of the project delay on the affected distribution utilities [DUs], particularly with respect to maintaining system reliability and addressing N-1 contingency concerns,’ the ERC said.

Last month, the NGCP said it is on track to complete 10 projects worth P30.88 billion this year. If successful, these additions will bring the company’s total completed projects for the year to 15, with a combined value of approximately P38 billion.

The projects that are up for completion in the second half of the year are the relocation of steel poles along Hermosa-Duhat 230-kv transmission line, Nabas-Caticlan-Boracay transmission line, Luzon voltage improvement project-3, New Antipolo 230-kV substation, North Luzon substation upgrading project 1, Tuguegarao-Lal-lo 230-kV transmission line, Amlan-Dumaguete 138-kV transmission line, Panay-Guimaras 138-kV interconnection, Mindanao substation expansion 4, and Nasipit substation bus-in project.

For families looking at commercial property as a long-term investment, lasting value is closely tied to the economic activity around it. Beyond location, what matters is the strength of the businesses, workforce, infrastructure, and daily activity that create sustained demand and support the asset over time.

At LIMA Estate, that economic base is already established. More than 200 foreign and domestic manufacturers and over 75,000 employees generate a steady flow of business and daily activity across the estate, creating demand that extends beyond industrial operations. Biz Hub at LIMA Estate brings commercial activity into the center of that economy, creating space for businesses to serve the companies, employees and communities that make up the estate.

‘LIMA Estate has significantly evolved from its original industrial purpose, and that evolution has created new demand within the estate,’ shared Rafael Fernandez de Mesa, President and CEO of Aboitiz Economic Estates and Aboitiz Land. ‘Biz Hub at LIMA Estate was the natural next step in the masterplan, creating the commercial district the community benefits from today in response to an ecosystem that has already grown around our industrial base.’

Industrial activity creates economic value that extends beyond the factory floor. As companies operate, they bring employees, suppliers and business activity into the estate, creating demand for the everyday needs of a growing business and residential community.

LIMA Estate functions as a self-sustaining economic system, where industry, services, and community converge within a single operating environment.

Biz Hub at LIMA Estate is positioned within this existing flow of economic activity. Its commercial district gives businesses a place to serve the companies, employees and communities that have already made LIMA Estate part of their daily lives.

This is part of the estate’s broader evolution into a business and community destination outside Metro Manila, where industrial activity provides the economic base for a wider range of commercial uses.

LIMA Estate’s industrial base is supported by a growing ecosystem around work, learning, living, and business. Residential communities such as The Villages at LIMA Estate, Campo Verde, and Summer Hills sit close to employment centers, while Batangas State University-LIMA Campus and Edustria help develop talent for the businesses operating within the estate. LIMA Tower One and Holiday Inn and Suites Batangas Limapark further support enterprise and business activity.

Retail, recreation, and mobility complete the daily ecosystem, from The Outlets at LIMA Estate and LIMA Exchange to The Golf Range at LIMA Estate and the Red Link Hub electric transport network. Together with the LIMA Gateway exit to the STAR Tollway, these elements make LIMA Estate a place where people can work, live, study, conduct business, and spend time within the same connected environment.

For families looking to diversify their holdings beyond traditional urban centers, Biz Hub at LIMA Estate offers commercial land within an economy that is already operating at scale. Its underlying demand comes from the businesses, workforce, residents, suppliers, and visitors that move through the estate every day.

That activity gives the district a broader base of commercial demand, while LIMA Estate’s growing mix of industry, services, housing, education, and community amenities continues to deepen the ecosystem around it. For investors, this creates an opportunity to hold commercial property within a functioning business district rather than one dependent on future development alone.

The proposition is reinforced by Aboitiz Economic Estates’ experience in developing and managing large-scale industrial estates and the infrastructure that supports them. For families taking a long-term view of their assets, Biz Hub at LIMA Estate offers commercial land anchored by an established economy, with the scale and institutional foundation to remain relevant as the surrounding district grows.

The healthcare sector is becoming more technology-enabled. From artificial intelligence and automation to digitally supported clinical and administrative processes, technology is changing how healthcare organizations operate and how care is supported across borders.

However, technology does not replace the need for people with healthcare expertise. If anything, it makes their expertise even more valuable. This is why the Philippines continues to play an important part in global healthcare operations, with the country serving as one of the world’s leading sources of healthcare professionals, particularly nurses.

For Omega Healthcare, an AI-driven healthcare solutions company that combines advanced automation with deep healthcare expertise, the strength of the Filipino healthcare workforce is one of the reasons we continue to invest in the country. As healthcare organizations adopt new technologies, we see opportunities for Filipino clinicians to apply their expertise beyond traditional settings while supporting healthcare organizations beyond the country. More Than a Talent Pool

What makes Filipino healthcare professionals valuable is not simply the size of the workforce, but the strong clinical foundation they bring to their work. They can understand complex clinical situations, apply sound judgment, and think critically while being able to communicate effectively and adapt to a wide range of processes and environments.

These capabilities allow them to navigate the demands of healthcare operations while maintaining the quality and care expected in the industry. All of these are essential as technology takes on a greater role in healthcare, where tools and systems may support the work, but clinical expertise and human judgment remain at its core.

Investing in Filipino Talent

Seeing the value and potential of Filipino professionals is why we continue to invest in their development. Our approach goes beyond preparing employees for their current roles. We provide role-specific and client training, along with opportunities to build leadership capabilities so they can continue advancing their careers within the organization. Our High Potential program, for example, identifies employees who demonstrate the potential to grow into roles across operations, quality, and training.

The USRN Academy is another example of this investment. It gives qualified PHRNs the opportunity to pursue USRN licensure, followed by clinical capability and client-specific training, allowing them to build on their existing experience and prepare for new opportunities. For us, investing in talent is not simply about building the skills we need today. It is about giving Filipino clinicians opportunities to grow with us and build meaningful careers in healthcare, even beyond the bedside.

Continuous Growth in PH

Our investment in Filipino talent is matched by our continued growth in the country. In 2025, we expanded our Philippine workforce across Manila and Cebu from 2,200 to 3,000 employees, representing a 36% increase. We also opened a new facility in Ortigas to support our growing operations.

We plan to build on this momentum in 2026. We are targeting a workforce of 4,000 to 5,000 employees and broaden our healthcare services and operations. These developments reflect the increasing scale of our work in the country and our confidence in Filipino talent and their capabilities.

As healthcare continues to change, the role of healthcare professionals will change with it. For Filipino clinicians, this can mean more opportunities to apply their clinical expertise in new settings, gain experience with different healthcare systems and standards, and build careers beyond traditional clinical roles. For us, we want to make the most of the talent already here and help Filipino professionals find new ways to contribute to healthcare.

The Philippine automotive market struggled to entice consumers to purchase new cars in January to July mainly due to geopolitical tensions, but its performance in the previous month gave the sector a much-needed shot in the arm.

Data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) showed that vehicle sales reached 241,725 units in the seven-month period, down 10.2 percent from 269,207 units a year earlier.

Car companies heaved a sigh of relief in July, however, as Campi-TMA members sold 37,319 vehicles during the month, just a tad below the 38,295 units recorded in July 2025 and 0.6 percent higher than June’s 37,079 units.

‘With this…growth, the industry is riding on a good momentum. We are hopeful that the positive trend will continue for the remainder of the year,’ Campi President Jose Maria Atienza said.

Despite the July improvement, most vehicle categories recorded weaker sales compared with last year. Passenger car sales fell 11 percent to 47,856 units from 53,767 units. The segment accounted for 19.8 percent of total industry sales.

Sales of commercial vehicles, which accounted for 80.20 percent of the market, declined 10 percent to 193,869 units from 215,440 units.

Within the commercial vehicle segment, Asian utility vehicles and multipurpose vehicles posted a 7.9-percent drop to 43,706 units from 47,452 units. Light commercial vehicles slid 10.4 percent to 144,652 units from 161,388 units.

Light-duty trucks and buses plunged 14.2 percent to 3,388 units from 3,948 units, while medium-duty trucks and buses dropped 12.3 percent to 1,770 units from 2,019 units.

Heavy-duty trucks and buses saw the sharpest contraction, with sales plunging 44.2 percent to 353 units from 633 units a year earlier.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. led Campi-TMA member brands in July with 17,797 units. Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. followed with 6,271 units, while Suzuki Philippines Inc. recorded 1,689 units.

Electric performance

The clearer shift in the market was in electrified vehicles (xEVs), with sales continuing to expand rapidly even as the overall market remained below last year’s level.

Sales of xEVs-covering battery electric vehicles (BEVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)-reached 38,286 units in January to July, 136.4 percent higher than the 16,195 units sold in the same period last year.

Their share of total industry sales consequently more than doubled to 15.84 percent from 6.02 percent.

July alone accounted for 7,086 xEV sales, up 161.8 percent from 2,707 units a year earlier and 3.6 percent higher than June’s 6,843 units.

Atienza said xEVs accounted for 29.5 percent of the market in July, up 18 percentage points from the same month last year.

‘The shift to electrification continues to accelerate, with xEVs accounting for 29.5 percent of the market last July. This is up 18 points from same month last year,’ he said.

HEVs remained the largest electrified-vehicle segment for the seven-month period, with sales rising 55.9 percent to 20,716 units from 13,290 units.

BEV sales, meanwhile, jumped 300.3 percent to 10,476 units from 2,617 units, while PHEV sales surged 2,363.2 percent to 7,094 units from just 288 units.

For July alone, HEVs accounted for 41.83 percent of xEV sales, followed by BEVs at 35.56 percent and PHEVs at 22.61 percent.

The figures cover BEVs, HEVs and PHEVs recognized by the Department of Energy as of August 10.

More than one in six construction establishments and projects monitored in Metro Manila were initially found non-compliant with occupational safety and health standards (OSHS), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported.

The regional office recorded an initial OSHS compliance rate of 83.09 percent following this year’s High-Impact, High-Visibility Inspection (HIHVI) among construction establishments and projects in the National Capital Region.

DOLE-NCR conducted 52 inspections, 698 monitoring activities and eight joint monitoring inspections covering 15,692 construction workers.

Of the establishments and projects monitored, 580 were found compliant with OSHS while 118 were initially identified as non-compliant.

The findings prompted the regional office to stress the need for sustained inspection, corrective action, technical assistance and monitoring in the construction sector.

‘The accomplishment particularly highlights the continuing importance of occupational safety and health enforcement in the construction industry,’ DOLE-NCR said in its report.

The 118 establishments and projects initially found non-compliant will undergo corrective measures through formal examination by an authorized labor inspector.

DOLE-NCR said compliance cannot be treated as a ‘one-time’ accomplishment because construction activities, working conditions, equipment, work locations and hazards may change as projects progress.

The joint monitoring and inspection activities were conducted with the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of the Interior and Local Government and Department of Public Works and Highways.

DOLE-NCR reminded employers and contractors to establish occupational safety and health systems, including construction safety and health programs, designation of OSH personnel and provision of personal protective equipment.

Employers were also reminded to install safety signs, barricades and safe scaffolding and observe electrical safety, lockout/tagout procedures and safe lifting and crane operations.

Other requirements include emergency preparedness, first-aid and medical facilities, sanitary and welfare facilities, safe access and egress, and other site-specific hazard controls.

On general labor standards, DOLE-NCR reminded employers to provide applicable wages, including overtime, holiday and premium pay, as well as rest periods and statutory benefits.

Construction workers should also be covered by the Social Security System, PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG, while employers must maintain proper employment records and comply with other applicable employment conditions.

As a follow-through to the inspection, DOLE-NCR held a forum where construction workers were briefed on social protection programs and benefits from Pag-IBIG Fund, the Employees’ Compensation Commission, SSS and PhilHealth.