Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Mingyu of K-pop boy group Seventeen appeared delighted by Filipino actor Michael Sager, sharing the latter’s dance cover of the South Korean star’s new song ‘5, 4, 3, (Pretty Woman).’

Sager showed off his moves in a white muscle tee and baggy denim pants while the track’s chorus played in the background, as seen in the video he shared on his Instagram page on Wednesday, Oct. 1.

‘Pretty,’ he captioned his video. Sager’s comments section was then filled with praises from his and Mingyu’s fans. Mingyu sang ‘5, 4, 3, (Pretty Woman)’ along with his Seventeen bandmate S.Coups. It also features American singer and rapper Lay Bankz.

Mingyu and S.Coups, who make up the subunit CxM, recently released their first mini-album ‘Hype Vibes.’ Aside from ‘5, 4, 3, (Pretty Woman),’ the album consists of five other songs, namely ‘Fiesta,’ ‘Worth it,’ ‘For you,’ ‘Young again’ and ‘Earth.’

Bracing for tighter supply due to pest infestation and weather disruptions, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has ruled that the country’s entire sugar production in the current crop year would be for domestic use.

In Sugar Order No. 1 for crop year 2025-2026, the SRA estimated that local sugar production would go down by 7.9 percent to 1.92 million metric tons (MT) from the output in the previous crop year.

Sugar crop year in the Philippines begins in September and ends in August of the following year.

The SRA is anticipating ‘a possible decrease’ in sugar harvests due to the ongoing red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) infestation and excessive rainfall in Negros. ‘I would agree with those estimates. We never imagined the damage caused by RSSI was that extensive. Hopefully, we can recover this coming crop year,’ United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines president Manuel Lamata said in a Viber message.

Local consumption

Given this situation, the SRA designated all sugar production this crop year for domestic consumption.

Every crop year, the SRA issues a sugar order to determine the allocation for locally produced sweetener.

In the past planting seasons, the SRA also earmarked all production for domestic consumption, as production was insufficient to meet demand. The country has relied on importation to plug any supply shortage.

The last time that the SRA set aside a portion of local sugar output was in crop year 2020-2021. At that time, 93 percent of the production was given to the domestic market, while the remaining 7 percent was reserved for the US market. Infestation

The SRA previously said the RSSI, first observed in plantations in Luzon in 2022, could reduce the sugar content of infested sugarcanes by as much as 50 percent.

It reported the first RSSI case in May, affecting some farms in Negros Occidental. Since then, the pest-which can cause yellowing leaves, stunted growth and shortened internodes-has spread to adjacent areas.

Last month, the SRA announced an intensified partnership with Hawaiian-Philippine Company to develop an organic and eco-friendly pest management solution to curb the infestation.

Institutions are not just offices that process cases; they are mirrors of the kind of society we live in. When institutions fail, they do more than break rules-they corrode public trust, the invisible glue that keeps a democracy intact. Among the many institutions in our country, the Ombudsman carries this burden in a profound way.

For years, Filipinos have expected the Ombudsman to be the chief prosecutor of corruption. Yet, when cases drag on for years or are seen as selective, disappointment follows. The challenge for the next Ombudsman is to go beyond this narrow view and reimagine the office as more than a courtroom adversary. The Ombudsman must also be a teacher of civic integrity, a guardian of public trust, and a voice for ordinary citizens.

The next Ombudsman cannot simply react to cases as they arrive; the office must also help rebuild the culture of integrity, so citizens once again believe that accountability is possible.

This requires bringing the Ombudsman closer to the people. Imagine an office that does not wait for complaints at its doors, but actively engages communities, teaches young people the value of honesty, and opens its processes to public scrutiny.

The fight against corruption is also a fight against inequality. The powerful often bend the rules in their favor, while ordinary citizens face expensive legal costs, delayed decisions, and complicated procedures. The next Ombudsman must make justice tangible for everyone whether they are a public school teacher, a farmer, a tricycle driver, or a market vendor. Equality before the law should be more than a constitutional phrase; it should be something people can feel in their daily lives.

Corruption is not destiny; it is a social arrangement that has been allowed to persist. If it were built, it could also be dismantled. Citizens, civil society, and public servants can create new habits of accountability, especially if the Ombudsman leads by example. Change begins with institutions that refuse to normalize corruption and instead cultivate integrity as the standard.

This does not mean abandoning prosecution, which is the Ombudsman’s core mandate. On the contrary, swift and fair handling of cases is crucial. But it must go hand in hand with prevention-through civic education, community participation, and reforms that close the loopholes where corruption festers. Only when punishment and prevention work together can we create lasting change.

The Ombudsman, in short, must be more than a watchdog. It must be an institution that inspires confidence, teaches integrity, and demonstrates fairness. When people trust that justice is accessible, they do not give up on democracy. They fight for it.

The next Ombudsman will face powerful resistance and entrenched interests. But institutions endure not because they are perfect, but because they embody a people’s aspirations. The task is not just to prosecute the corrupt but to restore hope. Filipinos must see that the law can protect the powerless, not just serve the powerful.

At stake is more than the credibility of one office. At stake is the very promise of equal citizenship. If the next Ombudsman can rise to this challenge, the office can remind us of a simple but profound truth: integrity is not just written in laws. It must be lived, taught, and passed on.

Cebu officials appealed for help on Wednesday, as food, water, and medical supplies were running dangerously low following a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck the northern part of the province.

Hundreds of Cebuanos responded to the call and showed up at the Capitol complex in uptown Cebu City, carrying donations and signing up to help, while the national government and several local governments have also started sending aid.

The province has been placed under a state of calamity, with officials saying they do not know the extent of the damage because many areas, particularly remote villages, have yet to be accessed.

At least 65 were confirmed dead, including three Philippine Coast Guard personnel and a Bureau of Fire Protection officer who perished in San Remigio after they were buried inside a gym that collapsed during a basketball league.

Almost 300 people were reported injured and dozens were feared missing, with these figures expected to rise as rescue operations continue, the Cebu Provincial Information Office said.

The tremor, which struck at 9:59 p.m. on Tuesday, was 17 kilometers northeast of Bogo City-the epicenter of what is now one of the deadliest natural disasters to hit the province in recent memory. It tore through northern Cebu, turning homes to rubble, toppling buildings, and plunging much of the Visayas into darkness, and was felt as far as Camarines Sur in Luzon and Davao del Sur in Mindanao.

Structural damage was reported in hospitals, gyms, and public buildings, prompting safety inspections and mass evacuations. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a full government response and ordered the heads of front-line agencies to immediately go to Cebu to assess the damage and identify the needs of affected communities.

‘Our Cabinet secretaries are already in the affected areas to provide assistance and assess the damage caused by the earthquake and its aftershocks,’ Marcos said in a statement on Wednesday. ‘Dire’ situation

The entire province of Cebu was placed under a state of calamity on Wednesday morning.

‘This declaration is not just a formality. It is a lifeline for thousands. We need to mobilize all available resources immediately,’ Vice Gov. Glenn Soco said.

Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro, who was leading disaster response efforts from the ground in Bogo City, described the situation as dire.

‘Many homes and establishments have been destroyed here, especially in Bogo City,’ she said. ‘What we need from the private sector is your help. Things like cooked meals or prepared food for the victims . The most urgent needs right now are food and clean drinking water. Many communities are running out,’ she said.

‘This is a tragedy of unprecedented scale in recent memory,’ Baricuatro said. ‘But we will rise again-together.’

‘Still counting’

Rescuers on Wednesday continued digging through collapsed buildings in Bogo, Medellin and San Remegio, with emergency responders saying they were overwhelmed.

‘We are still counting the dead,’ said Raymond Frasco of San Remegio’s disaster response office.

‘Some areas remain unreachable. We fear more bodies are under the rubble,’ he added.

Some barangays have been rendered inaccessible due to damaged roads and collapsed bridges.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has warned the public to expect aftershocks in the coming days, urging continued caution and adherence to safety protocols.

It has so far recorded at least seven aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 4.1 to 5.1, all centered near Bogo City.

Widespread blackouts

The quake disrupted power and communications across Cebu, Leyte, Samar, Biliran, Bohol, and Iloilo, triggering widespread blackouts.

According to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), 27 transmission lines and substations were damaged, knocking out 1,444 megawatts from the Visayas grid. The Daanbantayan substation near the quake’s epicenter sustained significant structural damage.

The earthquake caused a landslide in Leyte town, cracked bridges in Biliran and Samar, and even forced the evacuation of hospital patients and BPO workers as aftershocks continued into the early hours of Wednesday.

Volunteers needed

Aside from relief goods, Baricuatro said they needed medical personnel to assist in overcrowded health stations and emergency operations.

‘We are calling on medical volunteers-doctors, nurses, anyone who can help-to assist in treating the injured,’ Baricuatro said.

In a Facebook post, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said the Department of Health (DOH) had already deployed medical teams on Tuesday night.

‘Doctors, nurses, and staff of the DOH Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) and the DOH Cebu South Medical Center (CSMC) have reported back on their safety and are now deploying medical teams to nearby areas, especially in Bogo City itself,’ DOH spokesperson Dr. Albert Domingo said in a separate statement.

The Bohol provincial government also committed to sending a 16-member medical and rescue team, two ambulances, and a rescue vehicle, while South Cotabato said it was sending relief goods, hygiene kits, and a medical team from General Santos City.

Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado also announced on Wednesday that Bohol was donating P5 million in financial assistance. Bohol sustained minimal damage from the earthquake.

‘Bayanihan’ in action

Baricuatro also appealed for manpower in packing, transporting, and distributing relief goods, especially in far-flung barangays that remain difficult to access.

Hundreds of Cebuanos have gathered at the Capitol, among them over 100 medical students from various schools, as well as ordinary citizens without medical backgrounds, offering to help however they can.

Several volunteers have already been deployed to the north to assist with both medical response and logistics.

‘This is what bayanihan means,’ said Capitol staffer Mark Gallarde. ‘People are not waiting to be asked-they are showing up, ready to work.’

‘Adopt-a-parish’

Newly appointed Cebu Archbishop Alberto ‘Abet’ Uy also launched the archdiocese’s ‘Adopt-a-Parish’ initiative on Wednesday, just a day after his installation.

‘As your Archbishop of Cebu, I am appealing to everyone to help however they can for the good of our earthquake survivors,’ Uy said in the local dialect.

The initiative calls on parishes that were spared by the quake to ‘adopt’ and support affected parishes, especially those in isolated northern towns.

‘The Church can help in three ways-through prayer, listening, and financial support,’ Uy said. He also ordered all northern parishes to refrain from holding Masses until buildings have been inspected by engineers.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) deployed an 18-man contingent to Cebu on Wednesday night, Oct. 1, following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck the province.

The team coordinated with the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to assess urgent needs on the ground.

MMDA Chairman Don Artes said the contingent is composed of personnel from the Public Safety Division and the Road Emergency Group. They are tasked with assisting affected residents and supporting relief and recovery efforts.

‘The team will clear debris on roads that impede mobility and accessibility,’ Artes said in an official statement posted on Facebook Thursday.

K-9 units trained for search and rescue were also deployed to help locate survivors trapped under debris.

The contingent carried solar-powered water purifiers, life locators, extrication tools, trauma kits, and clearing equipment such as chainsaws and dump trucks.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard deployed a K-9 unit and delivered medical equipment and relief packs by ship, including a portable water desalinator in Bogo City capable of producing up to 20,000 liters of drinking water daily after the city’s pipeline was damaged.

These efforts were carried out in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to mobilize resources and provide immediate aid.

The poor, or the bottom 30 percent of the population, spend most of their limited resources on everyday essentials such as food, house rent, and education.

This was pointed out by Dr. Rogelio Alicor Panao, INQUIRER Metrics data scientist and associate professor at the University of the Philippines, who said that latest data on consumer spending ‘challenges long-held beliefs about Filipino spending habits.’

Panao, in his analysis of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ 2021 Consumer Finance Survey, stated that among the bottom 30 percent, almost three-fifths of every peso, or 58.2 percent is swallowed by essential food.

‘[This is] proof that survival still dictates daily choices,’ he said.

Even the richest 30 percent and middle 40 percent spend half their resources on food. However, ‘the gradual drop’ – 51 percent and 57 percent – ‘shows how rising incomes slowly loosen the grip on the dining table.’

RELATED STORY: Fighting poverty, bridging inequality

‘As earnings climb, families channel more to housing, utilities, and transportation, upgrading homes and gaining mobility,’ he explained, stressing that the wealthiest spend the most on furnishings and maintenance, a quiet signal of comfort and stability.’

Yet education flips the script: the poorest devote 5.7 percent of their budget to schooling – over twice what the richest spend – suggesting that among the poor more particularly, education is the surest escape from poverty.

‘The biggest surprise though appears to be in the pesos spent on life’s little luxuries,’ Panao said, pointing out that contrary to the cliché that the poor waste spare pesos on vices, they actually spend the least on non-essential food and alcohol, just 1 and 1.4 percent respectively.

Middle and upper groups indulge more at 1.9 percent and 2.4 percent respectively.

‘For policymakers, the message should be clear-make food affordable, housing livable, and education accessible. The poorest are not squanderers-they are disciplined survivors fighting to get through,’ he said

Public satisfaction with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s performance rose in the second quarter of 2025, according to the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released on Tuesday.

The survey, conducted from June 25 to 29, 2025, indicated that the President received the highest gain from those in Balance Luzon and among the 55-year-old and older age group, but his rating remained ‘poor’ among those in the 18- to 24-year-old bracket.

It showed that nearly half, or 46 percent, of adult Filipinos were satisfied with Marcos’ performance, up from 38 percent in April 2025. Thirty-six percent, on the other hand, were dissatisfied, down from 48 percent in the same period. Those who were ‘undecided’ accounted for 19 percent, an increase from April’s 14 percent.

This result translated into a net satisfaction rating of +10 (satisfied minus dissatisfied), which the SWS classifies as ‘moderate.’ It marks a 20-point improvement from the ‘poor’ -10 recorded in April 2025, reversing the steady decline from ‘very good’ +32 in September 2024 to ‘neutral’ +1 in February 2025.

Not numbers alone

Asked for his comment, Marcos appeared to be surprised, saying he was not aware of the improvement in his trust ratings.

‘It’s, of course, nice to note. I didn’t know about that. But now that you tell me, of course I’m glad that it’s that way,’ he told reporters during his visit to Masbate City on Wednesday to lead the distribution of assistance to families affected by Typhoon Opong last week.

‘I guess we just have to keep working. Whatever is happening-whether there’s a storm, a scandal, or unrest-the people always expect the government to continue delivering services, to keep doing its work at every level, both national and local,’ he added.

As public servants, Marcos said, they should be simply working to serve the people, and not be seen as playing games, or engaging in nonsense or politicking.

Gains in all areas

An improvement in the President’s satisfaction ratings was driven by gains across all areas, with the highest recorded in Luzon outside Metro Manila at ‘moderate’ +28, representing a 21-point jump from ‘neutral’ +7 in April 2025.

This was followed by Metro Manila at +1, the Visayas at -2, and Mindanao at -9, all classified as ‘neutral.’ Compared to the previous survey, these reflect increases of seven points from ‘neutral’ -6, nine points from ‘poor’ -11, and 35 points from ‘bad’ -44, respectively.

Marcos’ net satisfaction also improved across both rural and urban areas. In rural areas, it rose by 11 points from -4 to +7, both ‘neutral,’ while in urban areas it climbed by 27 points from ‘poor’ -14 to ‘moderate’ +13.

The President’s net satisfaction rating also rose among all age groups except for those between 18 and 24 years old.

‘Poor’ for Gen Z

Compared to April 2025, net satisfaction with the President among those 55 years and older rose by 23 points from ‘neutral’ +9 to a ‘good’ +32 in the latest survey. It rose six points to ‘neutral’ +5 compared to ‘neutral’ -1 among 45- to 54-year-olds.

For 35 to 44-year-olds, his net satisfaction was at ‘neutral’ +5, up by 18 points from ‘poor’ -13 in April 2025. It also rose by 43 points to ‘neutral’ +4 from ‘bad’ -39 among 25 to 34-year-olds.

Meanwhile, it hardly moved at ‘poor’ -18 from ‘poor’ -19 among the 18 to 24-year-olds, or those from Generation Z.

The survey was conducted among 1,200 adults using face-to-face interviews and had a sampling margin of error of plus-or-minus 3 percent for national percentages and plus-or-minus 6 percent for Metro Manila, Visayas, Mindanao, and Luzon outside Metro Manila.

Because no official from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) showed up again for budget discussions at the House of Representatives, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio vowed to push for a significant reduction of the agency’s budget – from P902 million to just P198 million.

Tinio, in his manifestation during Thursday’s session, said that Vice President Sara Duterte’s insistence on not showing up or sending an undersecretary-level official to assist the budget sponsor is an indication that the OVP is not interested in defending their proposed allocation for 2026.

According to Tinio, the move to ask for Duterte’s presence is not about politics, but rather to raise questions and concerns about allocations in OVP – which are also asked of other agencies. And because of this, Tinio said he will move to just give the OVP its proposed personal services (PS) or the allocation for salaries.

‘Again, the point of these discussions is not for politicking; our goal here is to ask legitimate questions, points which we also raised with other agencies. But with this treatment – again, we condemn the disrespect shown by the Vice President to the people, she is seeking a bigger budget for 2026 but the agency chose not to show up to stand and explain their allocation,’ Tinio said in English.

‘That’s why at the proper time Mr. Speaker, I will move to reduce the budget of the [OVP] for 2026, they are asking for a total of P902.895 million for 2026, I will move that it be cut only to the PS component – only the salaries of its personnel. So I will move that the budget be reduced merely to the PS of P198.8 million, at the proper time, since the head of office herself has not deemed it necessary to defend the budget proposal of her office,’ he added.

Tinio said the new figure is based on the belief that OVP personnel are good, but are unlucky to have Duterte as their head of office.

‘Why so? Because the government is obligated, as they remain government employees, to allocate for their salaries, and we also considered the welfare of our OVP employees, we believe that they are honest public servants but they are dragged into the issue because of their head of office’s behavior,’ he added.

Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said that because of Duterte’s actions, she initially thought of proposing to cut OVP’s budget to zero, but she said thinking of the employees prompted her to just push for a budget cut.

‘If she can afford to be showing herself up to the Senate, including being there and applauding the former Senate president in his privilege speech [.] why can she not spare a few moments of her time attending to her official function as Vice President, to defend the budget of her office? Enough is enough, enough of her brattiness,’ de Lima said.

‘So I rise today to manifest my extreme displeasure about the behavior of our Vice President. And in due time, I will move for the decrease in the budget of the [OVP]. I actually intended initially to move for zero budget for the [OVP] [.] but after some mulling, after some reflection, and out of courtesy also and consideration to the personnel and staff of the [OVP], I’m just now thinking of moving for the decrease,’ she added.

De Lima, meanwhile, said that her proposal may be to retain OVP’s PS and the maintenance and other operating expenses.

Before Tinio and de Lima’s manifestations, the proposed OVP budget was once again brought up, as the House seeks to end debates on House Bill (HB) No. 4058 or the General Appropriations Bill (GAB). However, budget sponsor and Palawan 2nd District Rep. Jose Alvarez admitted that no one from the OVP is present to assist him.

Instead, Alvarez showed three letters from Duterte – first, assigning staffers like Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio and others to attend in her behalf; second, notifying the House committee on appropriations that Ortonio has been designated as officer-in-charge due to the leave of absence of Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez; and a set of demands for her appearance at the House plenary.

Part of Duterte’s demands is for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to also show up at the House to defend the Office of the President’s budget.

Best response possible

House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice, meanwhil,e believes that not giving a response to Duterte’s hateful messages may be the best response possible.

‘The letter of Vice President Sara Duterte with all due respect reeks of hate and impropriety, considering that the subject matter is simply the proposed budget of her office. Instead of addressing the issue with sobriety and professionalism, the letter reflects the lingering bad blood between her and the House, particularly the 19th Congress,’ Erice said.

‘Our task is to serve the people, not to be distracted by personal grievances or political animosities. The best way forward is simply to ignore the letter, and proceed with the more important task at hand – the approval of the national budget. To ignore the letter and treat it as unimportant is in fact the most professional and dignified way of addressing this matter,’ he added.

OVP’s budget was originally scheduled to be discussed last Tuesday, but it was deferred to Wednesday, due to the absence of an undersecretary-level official to assist the budget sponsor.

This is not the first time that the OVP sent an official that is not of an undersecretary level. Last September 12, at the initial budget hearing before the House committee on appropriations, the panel was forced to reschedule the discussions as Ortonio was the highest-ranked official that Duterte sent.

Budget sponsor and Palawan 2nd District Rep. Jose Alvarez said that Vice President Duterte will eventually show up on September 16 – a promise that she fulfilled.

During the committee hearing, both the Minority and the Majority accorded parliamentary courtesy to Duterte, sparing her from questions by the panel’s members. It was Erice who moved to give Duterte parliamentary courtesy.

Duterte however, waived the parliamentary courtesy given, answering some questions from the Minority solons.

This allowed ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio and Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co to raise questions regarding low obligation rates and the disallowed OVP confidential funds.

Several flights at the Laoag International Airport in Ilocos Norte have been canceled on Thursday due to bad weather conditions brought about by Tropical Storm Paolo, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap).

In its advisory, Caap said the following flights, which are bound from and to Manila, were canceled this Thursday:

Philippine Airlines

PR 2196

PR 2197

PR 2198

PR 2199

Caap noted that a total of 425 passengers were affected by the flight disruption.

‘Affected passengers are urged to coordinate directly with their respective airlines for the latest flight updates and rebooking assistance,’ Caap said.

The aviation authority assured the public that it is ‘closely monitoring the situation and is in constant coordination with airline operators and airport authorities to uphold the safety, security, and welfare of the traveling public.’

Based on the 11 a.m. update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Ilocos Norte, was placed under Signal No. 1 due to Paolo, which was packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 90 kph.

Paolo is forecast to make landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora by Friday morning before crossing Northern Luzon and emerging over the West Philippine Sea.

Though we wish that our country can enable all Filipinos to make a decent living locally, it is nevertheless good to know that the government of the territory nearest us, Hong Kong, recognizes that Filipino domestic helpers provide essential services to its citizens.

Early this week, the HK government announced a welcome raise of 2.2 percent in its minimum allowable wage (MAW) for foreign domestic helpers (FDHs), from HK$4,990 to HK$5,100 monthly.

The law further stipulates that employers provide helpers free food, either in their household or through a monthly allowance of at least HK$1,236 (unchanged from last year).

‘The Government regularly reviews the MAW for FDHs to ensure its level is commensurate with Hong Kong’s economic and labor market conditions,’ says a spokesman.

‘In this year’s review, we comprehensively considered a basket of factors in accordance with the established mechanism, including Hong Kong’s general economic performance and labor market conditions over the past year, near-term economic outlook, affordability of FDH employers, basic living needs of FDHs and views of different stakeholders. Taking into account all the relevant factors in a holistic manner, the Government has decided to increase the MAW.’ Rising wages

The dynamics of employer-employee relations were analyzed in a survey by HelperChoice, a recruitment company connecting both parties, through 1,549 job postings published on its site between August 2024 and August 2025, with the objective of analyzing salary and hiring conditions in the territory.

The mandated minimum wage is one thing, but according to HelperChoice, the average monthly salary in 2025 is HK$5,722, which is a 7.9-percent increase from 2024.

The New Territories gives the highest average monthly wage at HK 5,886, followed by Hong Kong Island at HK$5,807, and Kowloon at HK$5,158.

‘This continued upward trend reflects employers’ growing willingness to offer competitive salaries to attract experienced domestic workers, particularly those already based in Hong Kong, whose paperwork processing is faster and who can often extend their contracts without returning home,’ says HelperChoice.

‘What families value most’

By law, FDHs must live with their employers. HelperChoice’s survey shows that 73.7 percent of employers provide a private room for them, 12.9 percent a shared room with a child, 8.3 percent shared space with another domestic worker, and 5.1 percent shared space with another adult family member, such as an elderly relative.

These signal the increasing trend towards more private living space for FDHs.

‘In 2025, we’re seeing a noticeable shift in what families value most,’ says Raymund Sze, the company’s general manager.

‘Employers are no longer just hiring based on cost, they’re willing to offer higher salaries for helpers with prior Hong Kong experience, child care or elderly care expertise. Convenience and reliability have become top priorities, especially in dual-income households where domestic workers play an essential role in day-to-day family life. Employers are typically willing to increase the salary when renewing the contract with a reliable domestic helper.’

Room for improvement

However, a March 2024 HelperChoice survey found areas for improvement. In interviews with FDHs, ‘several reported that they are ill-treated by the children: they lose credibility when their employer put into question their way of doing in front of the children; some housemaids are admonished because of the children’s behaviors or are held responsible in case the children complain to their parents.’

‘Less than a quarter of the domestic workers are taking care of pets but bites from dogs are unfortunately quite common among pet sitters.’

A third of interviewees said that their employers treated them disrespectfully, shouting at them, making them work long hours, giving them only little or leftover food.

Aside from sufficient wages, FDHs have the right to decent treatment as well.