01:01.9
Topping the midday news, the Philippine Labor Department is set to meet next week in response to the President's Labor Day order.
01:08.6
See, on Wednesday, President Marcos ordered the agency to review minimum wage rates nationwide and consider the impact of inflation.
01:17.8
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Leguesma assures the public the President's order will be prioritized.
01:23.5
Along with their goal of creating more jobs to help Filipino families make ends meet.
01:30.5
We will adhere to this directive.
01:33.4
Me as the National Wages and Productivity Commission Chair will ensure that this will be implemented.
01:39.9
In addition, the NWPC will be meeting next week to be able to really review, set a motion to review existing policies para mawala yung sinasabing uncertainties
01:50.6
and be able to enhance fairness to the state.
01:53.5
By trying to enhance or generate more jobs in a family of five, where there are two or three more who can probably be provided with jobs,
02:04.6
that will be more than enough to address the basic requirements.
02:11.2
But Secretary Leguesma admits creating quality jobs remains the biggest challenge for government.
02:16.2
He adds other issues in the labor force include skills and geographic mismatch.
02:23.5
We look at really enhancing our capacity to be able to absorb investments and match them with their manpower requirements.
02:33.7
These are actually being done.
02:35.8
We're trying to rationalize and try to make a direction and encourage investors to look at a particular region where their specific needs for manpower actually are abundant.
02:51.8
An employer's group welcomes.
02:53.5
The president's call to review minimum wages across the country.
02:58.0
The Employers' Confederation of the Philippines, however, asserts minimum wages were never meant to equal to or to be equal rather to the living wage.
03:08.3
Think Tank Ibon Foundation earlier said Filipino workers earn an average of 440 pesos a day,
03:14.1
which is a far cry from the 1,200 pesos a family of five needs to survive.
03:23.5
It's a perception that the living wage will be equal to the minimum wage.
03:29.3
The living wage is different from the minimum wage.
03:31.3
The living wage is really a lot.
03:35.3
For example, in the family, minimum wage is equal to the minimum wage.
03:40.2
Minimum wage is an entry-level wage.
03:43.2
The protection, basically, internationally, the perception is that the ILO, those are the new graduates.
03:53.5
The renewed push for higher wages comes as a new poll shows a number of Filipino families experiencing hunger
04:01.5
climbed to a three-year high at the beginning of this year.
04:04.7
Based on the latest social weather station survey, the number of hungry families rose to 14.2% in the first quarter.
04:14.1
The 12.6% recorded last December.
04:18.2
It is also the highest hunger incidence since May of 2021,
04:23.5
as recorded 16.8%.
04:26.0
The latest figure translates to nearly 4 million families who had nothing to eat
04:31.5
due to lack of money or food access.
04:35.1
SBS also noted the highest hunger rate in Luzon, particularly in Metro Manila.
04:42.4
For the Institute of Occupational Health and Safety Development,
04:45.8
it's high time that Filipino employees receive living wages amid the high prices of goods.
04:51.2
Joining us now to talk about this is,
04:53.5
the Group's Executive Director, Nadia De Leon.
04:55.6
Nadia, good afternoon to you and thanks for joining us today.
04:57.9
Welcome to the program.
05:00.1
Hello, magandang tanghali, Ms. Romina.
05:02.9
Yeah, it's really hard to not react when you look at the numbers, right?
05:09.8
Nearly 4 million families who had nothing to eat due to lack of money or food access.
05:15.3
I mean, that's really a hard pill to swallow right there.
05:18.4
But let's talk about what the President said on Labor Day,
05:23.5
Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board to start a review of the minimum wage.
05:30.7
How much, really, does this order address the current needs of the Philippine labor force?
05:39.4
In IOSAD's view, actually, this is really out of tune.
05:45.1
It really does not reflect the urgent demands of the Filipino workers.
05:52.1
Ang kinakailangan,
05:53.5
ngayon ang ating mga mga gagawa ay urgent.
05:58.2
Urgent na significant increase sa minimum wage.
06:05.3
Actually, hindi pagre-review ang kailangan.
06:09.6
Kasi yung i-review nila, actually, yung Regional Wage Board,
06:14.0
ang track record niya sa loob ng kanyang 35 years of existence
06:19.6
ay tanging baratin.
06:23.5
I-depress ang wages ng ating mga manggagawa.
06:27.8
I want to get into that.
06:29.5
What is wrong with the system, Nadia?
06:31.3
Ano ba ang mali sa sistema?
06:33.4
Kung bakit hindi na tatapatan yung inflation ng minimum wage?
06:41.0
Even if there are regional wage boards that's supposed to look into the matter,
06:46.6
pero hindi na tatapatan.
06:48.0
Sabi mo nga, dekada na ang nakalipas.
06:53.5
Eh, balikan ko lang, ha.
06:55.8
Sa loob ng 35 years, may mahigit 370 wage orders na.
07:03.4
Pero hindi talaga ito nakakaagapay, no, tuon sa inflation over the years.
07:09.1
Dahil ang average na increase na ibinibigay nila ay napakaliit.
07:14.2
No, ayon sa IBON, over the years, a little over 1.7% increase ang ibinibigay.
07:22.3
So, papaano talaga?
07:23.5
Talaga, no, makakaagapay yung wage ng ating mga manggagawa doon sa inflation.
07:29.6
So, that's one thing, no.
07:31.3
Yung binibigay nila na nadagdag-sahod throughout the years ay talagang napakaliit.
07:38.3
Kaya nga, after 35 years, no, kung titignan natin,
07:42.9
mababang-mababa pa rin, no, yung sahod ng ating mga manggagawa.
07:47.5
And there's another thing that I wanted to talk to you about.
07:49.5
Sabi mo nga, parang rinirepress, no, yung...
07:53.5
...pagtaas ng sweldo ng ating mga manggagawa.
07:56.4
It used to be na yan ang panlaban natin, hindi ba?
07:59.2
Cheaper labor when it comes to the Philippines for foreign investments and all that.
08:04.0
But hindi na ngayon ganun ang sitwasyon.
08:06.9
In fact, you know, investors now would rather pay more.
08:11.2
Pero yung skill sets dapat nakatapat.
08:13.3
Pero yung sa atin nga, hindi na nga nakamatch yung skill sets.
08:16.8
Hindi na nga nag-improve.
08:19.6
Ayaw rin naman yun ng investors.
08:22.0
Tapos hindi rin naman karapat-dapat yung sahod na natatanggap ng ating mga manggagawa.
08:30.5
Kaya nga eh, no, kung baga ang isang pro-worker or pro-people na government,
08:37.7
no, ang nasa unahan lagi ng kanyang isip ay kung papaano magiging maalwan yung buhay,
08:44.7
no, ng kanyang mga manggagawa.
08:47.0
No, kaya nakakapagtaka, di ba,
08:50.4
na all throughout the years, no, itong boses, no, ng mga employers talaga yung mas naninibabaw.
08:58.9
Halimbawa, itong legislated wage increase, di ba,
09:02.6
may nakabinbin sa Senate, tapos after ma-approve doon yung proposed Senate bill noong February,
09:10.8
naghabol din yung Congress, di ba, nag-usap din sila sa range ng 150 to 750.
09:16.6
Pero after that, grabe, no, yung...
09:20.4
Reaction ng mga employers natin, di ba, na keso-keso inflationary,
09:27.3
na magsasara yung kanilang mga pabrika, et cetera.
09:30.8
So, yun yung nagiging problema, no, may malaking balakid, no,
09:35.5
bukod doon sa ating mga employers, no, na talagang takot, no, takot na takot na mabawasan yung kanilang profit.
09:44.2
Pero hindi, ah, gobyerno, no, na hinahayaan na mapag-iwanan.
09:50.4
No, yung ating, ah, sahod, no, ng ating mga manggagamot.
09:54.7
Talk to us about living wages.
09:57.2
Ito ang proposal ng inyong grupo.
10:00.9
How much of a game changer will this be for the Filipino laborer?
10:07.3
Ah, sa tingin namin, malaki kasi yung kaibahan, eh, no, noong minimum wage at noong living wage.
10:13.7
Yung minimum wage, ah, ah, sa kalakaran talagang ano yan, no,
10:20.4
makaka-afford, no, doon sa pagkuhan ng basic, no, na mga necessities ng mga manggagawa.
10:27.0
Yung living wage, ah, it is a level of, ah, of pay, no, wherein, ah, it gives workers, ah, the capacity, no, to afford yung mga basic necessities like food, ah, shelter, ah, health care, et cetera.
10:44.7
Sa ngayon kasi, no, lumalabas, di ba, na, ah, halos, ah, 50, ah, 60.
10:50.3
Sa NCR, halos 50% lang, no, yung minimum wage vis-a-vis sa family living wage.
10:57.9
Halimbawa, kung yung 1,200, no, na family living wage ngayon for a family of five, no, ay maabot natin, no, malaki talaga yung epekto nito sa kakayanan ng ating mga manggagawa.
11:11.9
Kung sa amin, no, sa isang health and safety group, malaki yung ano to, game changer to doon sa kakayanan niyang bumili ng pagkain.
11:20.3
No, para maiangat, no, ng kaunti, no, yung nutrition, no, ng ating mga manggagawa. At hindi lang manggagawa kasi sabi nga namin, it goes beyond the workplace.
11:32.2
Yeah, I actually wanted to talk to you about that because here we are, we're talking about just the Filipino labor but it's not just about them.
11:40.8
If you focus on living wages, it has, it will have an intergenerational effect. You're talking about the future of their children as well, Nadia.
11:50.3
Yes, gusto namin talagang stress, eh, no, na over the years, sabihin natin yung 35 years, talagang, ah, ibig sabihin napako, no, yung sahod ng ating manggagawa sa loob ng 35 years.
12:05.2
At ano rin yung napako, no, napako din, no, yung ating mga, ah, yung pamilya nila sa kahirapan, no, napako din yung, actually, yung kalusugan, no, yung nutrition, no, ng kanilang mga anak.
12:19.5
Kaya nga sabi namin, ah, ang tinde nung impact, no, yung, ah, effect ng pagkakaroon ng intergenerational, ah, poverty and malnutrition.
12:31.5
Sa tingin namin, yung living wage, meron siyang, ah, maitutulong, malaki yung kanyang maitutulong para maputol yung cycle na yun ng intergenerational poverty and malnutrition.
12:45.1
You know, I can almost hear, you know, the corporate side saying, but we do have CSR and we do have programs.
12:53.3
Um, nakakatulong din naman kami sa mamamayan in one way or another.
12:59.0
But, but when you, when you look at the statistics, and it's, it's, it's really hard to accept, and I mentioned this a while ago, um, 4 million, 4 million families who experienced, uh, um, um, hunger.
13:15.1
Ah, parang mahirap ata tanggapin yun.
13:20.2
Alam mo, nagkaroon kami ng isang, ng, ng isang forum on the effect of low wages, low wages on nutrition.
13:27.3
And meron talagang isang very alarming, no, na data na, na-share yung aming isang nutritionist na speaker.
13:35.3
And it is about the, you know, yung most commonly consumed food items ng mga, ng household, no, sa Pilipinas.
13:45.1
Rice, salt, oil, onion, egg.
13:51.5
So, ibig sabihin, malaking bilang, no, ng pamilyang Pilipino, talagang nagkakasya siya sa, mainly sa bigas, at ano yung maiahalo niya doon, no, posible panggisa, no, o maglalagay siya ng salt o toyo para magkaroon ng, you know, magkaroon ng lasa.
14:10.3
Kaya talagang very much affected yung nutrition, no, ng ating.
14:15.1
Ah, mamamayan, lalo na, no, ng mga bata.
14:18.5
Hindi, eh, ang hirap tignan, no, na hindi sila nakakatikim ng madalas, no, no, ah, energy rich, protein rich, no, vitamin rich na mga pagkain.
14:29.5
Dahil over the years, hindi nakaagapay yung mababang sahod, no, ng kanilang mga magulang.
14:35.9
But I, I do want to focus on one thing as well, um, Nadia.
14:40.0
Wala namang question, the Filipino labor force, they deserve better.
14:45.1
Pero, um, kapag, ano ba ang hinihingi ng panahon ngayon?
14:52.3
At kaya ba yun ibigay ng, ah, ng Filipino laborer?
14:58.6
Um, nag-iiba na ba ang hinihingi ng industriya, kung ano man ito?
15:05.0
At kaya ba itong gampanan ng mga manggagawa?
15:10.1
Ah, I think kayang-kaya.
15:12.9
The, ah, data can, ah, can, ah...
15:15.1
You know, speak for itself na tumaas, no, tumoble yung productivity ng mga,
15:21.3
ng ating mga manggagawa over the years, no.
15:24.7
At, ah, kung baga, ibig sabihin, mas lumaki, no, tumaas yung kanyang produktividad, kakayanan, no,
15:32.1
na ibigay, no, yung kinakailangan sa kanyang trabaho.
15:36.3
Pero ang nakuhuli nga, no, ay papaano tatapatan yung produktividad na, na, na iyon.
15:42.8
Kung, ah, nananatiling mababa yung...
15:45.1
Doable siya, eh, no, doable.
15:48.8
Ah, kung, ah, mabawasan lang talaga, no, no, kung hakayaan, no, ng mga employer na mabawasan katiting, no, yung kanilang profit
15:58.7
at ibigay nila yung much deserved, no, o yung what is due, no, to, ah, to the producers of our nation, no, yung ating mga manggagawa.
16:08.1
Kasi, di ba, nung pandemic, we can all see, no, sino yung, ah, nagpatuloy pumasok.
16:15.1
Diba? Sa loob, no, ng mga paggawaan, kahit matindi, no, yung, ah, ah, risk na magkaroon ng COVID.
16:22.7
Di ba ang nagpatuloy nung ating ekonomiya ay ang ating mga manggagawa din?
16:28.4
I also wanna, you know, I, I wanna digress a little bit before we circle back to, you know, what we're talking about right now.
16:36.0
I, I wanna focus on the, um, Filipina laborer.
16:41.3
Kamusta ba ang mga kababaihan na manggagawa?
16:45.1
Um, what's their situation now?
16:48.9
Kasi hindi, um, siguro hindi alam ng maraming tao, iba rin kasi ang nagiging sitwasyon ng kababaihan, ah, na hindi dapat.
16:58.4
Hindi ba? Kapag, ah, sila'y, ah, ah, nasa workforce na, Nadia, could you give us a clear, clear picture of how the woman, Filipino woman laborer is faring at this point, her situation at this point?
17:15.1
No, sa tingin namin talagang doble-doble, no, yung, ah, kahirapan na nararanasan ng ating mga kababaihan manggagawa.
17:24.6
No, bukod doon sa mababang, ah, sweldo o sakot din, no, na kanilang tinatanggap, marami rin kaming mga nakausap ng mga manggagawang kababaihan na nanatiling, ah, kontraktwal, no, kontraktwal labor.
17:41.9
And at the same time, dahil kami, very much focused.
17:45.1
Yung kami sa health and safety, ah, a lot of women workers actually face hazardous, dangerous conditions at work, no, sa loob ng isang, ah, manufacturing, ah, electronics, no, manufacturing company, for example.
18:01.4
Ito lang, no, itong heat, no, ito lang heat, itong excessive heat na tingin namin, one of the, ah, ah, hottest issues din among workers, kababaihang manggagawa din, no, yung mga nasa garment.
18:15.1
Sektor, no, nasa mga production lines, mga manufacturing company, sila yung nakakaranas, no, ng matinding init, no, dahil na rin sa, ah, kawalan, no, ng, ah, pagsunod o pag-comply sa mga occupational safety and health standards.
18:32.4
Dagdag pa dito, syempre, no, yung bilang kababaihan, marami rin sa atin, no, yung nakakaranas ng discrimination, no, sa loob ng paggawaan, may mga kaso din, no, ng mga sections.
18:45.1
Sexual harassment or yung mga gender-based violence. Kaya it's, ah, it's harder, actually. It's more difficult, no, for the women workers, no, papaano talaga siya magsusurvive, no, sa gitna ng mababang sahod, ah, hindi regular na trabaho at yung hindi ligtas na kalagayan sa trabaho.
19:06.4
Let's go back to, um, the issue now, Nadia. Um, you mentioned this a while ago that there has to be an end to the cycle of poverty.
19:15.1
But to the private sector, though, um, is it their job to end the cycle of poverty? Isn't it, um, the government's, um, role and focus, really?
19:28.2
And it shouldn't be the private, private sectors alone. And also, um, when you talk about ending the cycle of poverty, and on the other hand, you gotta also talk about the health of the, of the business sector and the employers as well.
19:43.4
How do you strike a balance between the two interests?
19:49.3
Ah, well, yung una, ah, gusto ko ding diuna, no, tama ka, I agree with you. It is the government's, ah, primary responsibility, no, ah, lagi namin hindi binabanggit yun, no, dahil itong, ah, karapatan sa nakabubuhay na sahod, no, karapatan sa, ah, ligtas na trabaho, lahat ito, no, ay nakasaad, no, sa ating konstitusyon.
20:16.0
At kinakailangan talaga, no, yung mabigat.
20:19.3
At yung halang mabigat na responsibilidad ng pagtitiak nito ay nasa kamay ng ating mga gobyerno. Kaya laging dapat nasa unahan, no, yung kaka, kakapakanan ng mga manggagawa.
20:30.7
Ikalawa, no, doon sa, ah, pagtataas ng sahod, no, na sa tingin nga natin ay makatutulong para maibsan, no, yung kalagayan ng ating mga manggagawa.
20:42.3
So, totoo lang, meron siyang multiplier effect. Ibig sabihin, pag tinaas natin yung sahod ng ating mga manggagawa, magkakaroon siya ng kakayanan na bumili. Partikular na mga lokal na mga produkto.
20:59.4
Actually, yung sinasabi nilang tatamaan ng mga micro, small, medium, and enterprises, ito yung mga produkto nila, yung bibilhin ng ating mga manggagawa doon sa madadagdag na signifikante na halaga sa kanilang sahod.
21:18.9
Kaya yun yung sa tingin namin, balance. Pagkatitaas natin ng significant, when you mean significant, nasa range ng 150.
21:29.4
Pesos per day pataas at hindi yung kakarampot na bigay ng regional wage boards over the years. Yan yung makakastrike ng balance at makakataas ang kanyang kakayanan na bumili ng mga produkto.
21:45.3
At at the same time, yung mga kumpanya na yun ay ipatuloy na mag-ooperate at lalago din. Lalago dapat sabay. We strike a balance. Kumikita tayo.
21:59.4
At at the same time, nagpapatuloy sa pag-exist, pag-produce din yung ating mga employers.
22:14.6
Okay, we're going to have to leave it at that. Nadia De Leon there, Executive Director of the Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development. Thank you so much for joining us this noon.
22:24.1
Ms. De Leon there, stressing the need for living wage.
22:29.4
It's about time that this call be heeded. She says that there is a multiplier effect.
22:36.4
When you do increase the minimum wage and have a living wage in place, then that's going to have a multiplier effect.
22:45.7
This is going to make the Filipino laborer get access and buy the things that he needs and buy the things that she wants as well.
22:58.6
For her family. She also stresses that, you know, this is not just about the Filipino laborer alone, but this does have and will have an intergenerational effect.
23:09.4
And therein lies the balance between the interests of the Filipino laborer and the private sector.
23:18.0
All right, we move on with the rest of the news this noon.
23:21.0
Groups condemned the arrest of six Labor Day protesters.
23:24.0
The rallies underwent inquest proceedings today for allegedly violating.
23:28.6
The Public Assembly Act.
23:30.3
Manila Police insists the protesters had no permit to rally near the U.S. Embassy.
23:34.6
The police also accused them of assaulting members of the riot police.
23:38.4
Labor group Kilosang Mayo Uno and the Kabataan Party List Group condemned the arrest and called for their immediate release.
23:47.3
In other news, a Chinese research ship recently detected off the Philippines' eastern seaboard, reportedly now in the waters southeast of Samar Island.
23:57.2
A Philippine Navy spokesperson.
23:58.6
A Philippine Navy spokesperson says Shenko was spotted some 40 nautical miles outside of the Philippine territorial waters.
24:05.0
Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad notes the ship's track appears to be intentionally erratic.
24:11.7
Trinidad says the vessel carries unidentified equipment possibly used to collect samples from the seabed.
24:19.4
Baka lang, ito ay pang kuha ng bottom samples to be able to test ano na sa seabed.
24:24.2
Di pa naman siya pang drilling.
24:28.6
Filipino and American troops continue their joint exercises in the Philippines by holding aerial drills and helping poor communities in remote villages.
24:37.3
Katina Domingo gives us that story.
24:41.2
Several members of the Philippine and U.S. Air Forces jumped off a plane and landed on the long beach of San Vicente Town in Palawan.
24:49.5
Their skills in maneuvering parachutes and safe landing were tested and polished in these drills held on April 30.
24:58.6
Days before the free fall exercise, other aerial drills were also conducted in parts of the West Philippine Sea.
25:08.1
A cargo was dropped from a plane on Tupatag Island and the northern part of the Spratlys.
25:13.9
One NC-2i2, 212i aircraft proceeded to the island of Lawak and conducted two passes of resupply.
25:23.9
First through parachute and the other through airdrop.
25:27.1
The AFP earlier conducted...
25:28.6
a similar airdrop mission to send
25:30.6
supplies to troops stationed in
25:32.6
the BRP Sierra Madre
25:34.3
while the supply vessels usually used
25:36.6
by the Philippines were being repaired.
25:39.5
Meanwhile, the High Mobility
25:40.8
Artillery Rocket System or HIMARS
25:43.0
has arrived in Palawan.
25:45.3
It is a mobile multiple rocket
25:46.8
launcher from the U.S. which will be
25:48.7
used during the Balikatan exercises
25:53.9
Amid these military
25:55.0
drills, other Filipino and American
25:56.7
troops have been working to finish a
25:58.7
health center in Sitio Calupisan,
26:01.0
a remote village in the town of
26:04.5
Yung area na ito po, ang
26:06.5
kanilang reklamo is
26:08.5
usually is mataas yung malaria dito sa side.
26:10.9
Nanihirapan na silang
26:11.9
tumawid. Inbes na bumaba, is parang
26:14.2
nag-aalangan na sila na mag-seek
26:16.5
ng medical help. Kaya
26:18.4
parang kinitiis na lang nila yung sakit.
26:21.0
Data from the Department of Health
26:22.5
show that the Philippines recorded
26:24.5
some 6,200 malaria
26:28.4
This is 90% higher than the
26:30.3
3,000 malaria cases logged in
26:32.4
2022. Data from the
26:34.4
DOH also showed that so far,
26:36.6
Palawan is the lone Philippine province
26:38.3
with active malaria transmission.
26:41.3
While there is a health
26:42.4
center in the municipal complex of Rizal
26:44.4
town, it is two hours away from
26:46.4
Sitio Calupisan as residents
26:48.4
usually travel by foot
26:49.9
as small vehicles have a hard time
26:52.4
passing through the dirt paths and
26:54.4
rough roads leading to the village.
26:56.4
Romita, a resident
26:58.5
of Sitio Calupisan says, she
27:00.3
just waited for aid to arrive at home
27:02.5
last month when one of her sons
27:04.4
contracted the mosquito-borne disease.
27:12.3
Since March, Philippine and U.S.
27:14.5
troops have been working together to complete
27:16.5
the health center and turn it
27:18.4
over to the local government by next week.
27:20.9
This health center has a floor
27:22.5
area of 83 square meters
27:24.3
and they are expecting 200 households.
27:26.4
or approximately 800
27:28.4
residents to benefit from this project.
27:30.8
First Lieutenant Lucas Lateral
27:32.5
says, social civic projects
27:34.3
like these have always been part
27:36.5
of the Balikutan exercises.
27:38.6
We've learned a lot from our Filipino
27:40.4
power reports. They're extremely good
27:42.6
at what they do and they've been teaching
27:44.5
us a lot of techniques. From the way that they
27:46.2
do steel work, they do a lot
27:49.4
more quickly and more accurately than we
27:52.4
would normally do with power tools.
27:53.7
Second Lieutenant James S. Eliori,
27:56.4
American who is part of the U.S. Marine Corps,
27:58.3
says activities like these
28:00.4
are effective ways to strengthen
28:02.2
the camaraderie between the two allied
28:04.1
forces. I've never been more proud
28:06.3
to be Filipino-American. I
28:08.2
noticed that there are a lot of things in common
28:10.0
between Filipinos and Americans. I think
28:12.4
we're both very industrious
28:14.2
people and the site behind me
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kind of exemplifies that.
28:18.1
There are four other infrastructure projects
28:20.3
that are part of the 39th
28:22.1
Balikutan exercises. Two
28:24.1
are located in northern Luzon, while the
28:26.4
rest are being constructed in central
28:28.1
Luzon. Katrina Domingo,
28:30.4
ABS-CBN News, Rizal,
28:35.6
We're going to take a break now. Up ahead, the
28:38.0
political party of President Marcos out
28:40.1
to form alliances for the
28:41.9
2025 midterm elections. Details
28:44.1
when we return. You're watching Dateline Philippines
28:56.4
You're watching Dateline Philippines.
29:26.4
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30:26.4
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30:57.7
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30:58.5
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31:26.4
Talagang sa aking palagay, hanggang ngayon, ang tao ayaw na nilalaga-away-away.
31:35.9
PFP President and South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo adds they are in touch with at least three parties.
31:45.1
Meron na tayong tatlong national party na tinitingnan. Meron for alliance, meron for koalisyon.
31:53.2
At yung isa sa pinaka-importante na tinitingnan namin ngayon ay isang national political party na mag-merge talaga sa Partido Federal ng Pilipinas.
32:04.3
So pag sinabi mong merging, talagang pag-isahin na.
32:07.5
Sa usap po ninyo for possible alliance or koalisyon, kasama po ba dyan ang hukpong ng pagpapano?
32:13.2
Sa ngayon, hindi.
32:17.0
The Fisheries Bureau raises its red tide warning in six areas in the Philippines.
32:22.1
An April 30 bulletin by the agency said two areas in Mindanao and four in the Visayas were found positive for a toxic red tide.
32:32.1
It warns all types of shellfish from these areas are not safe for consumption.
32:37.2
But the agency says fish, squid, and shrimp from these places remain safe so long as they are fresh and washed thoroughly.
32:48.5
President Marcos Jr. vows to extend aid to communities affected.
32:52.1
By the extreme heat, we have more on this report.
32:57.1
Extreme heat in the Philippine province of Camarines Sur leaves three people dead.
33:02.2
The mayor of Pili town says the three victims worked outdoors.
33:06.7
One of them was a traffic enforcer who had a heart attack.
33:09.9
State weather forecasters continue to monitor the municipality's rising temperatures.
33:14.2
The town's heat index has averaged 46 degrees since April 26 with a peak of 49 degrees on Sunday.
33:23.0
In the town of Camiling, Tarlac in Central Philippines, farmer Carlito Dacalano was expecting a bumper harvest but their chance for profit dried up along with their parched land.
33:36.0
It's also a double whammy for Carlito since worms have also infested his cornfield.
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He says he can still sell them but only as animal feed.
33:45.9
It's really like that because there's no one else to work for.
33:50.7
It's really hard to work.
33:52.1
It's really hard to work.
33:58.0
In the past days, the mercury in Camiling soared to 40 degrees Celsius, similar to a high-grade fever.
34:05.6
The heat index can even be higher depending on relative humidity.
34:09.9
A local disaster official admits the heat they are experiencing now is nowhere near what they have been used to in previous years.
34:17.8
What do you feel?
34:52.7
Despite repeated reminders for the public to avoid prolonged sun exposure, many have made a beeline to the ocean to cool off.
35:05.8
That's why we're looking for the cold.
35:09.1
The city's disaster office has been advising residents to be conscious of their health and safety following incidents of heat exhaustion during their recently held Bangus Festival.
35:19.8
The possible cause is...
35:22.1
They hadn't eaten.
35:52.1
So for today, easterlies is affecting the country so we're expecting hot and humid weather throughout the day for the whole country and we're also expecting partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of localized thunderstorms.
36:07.9
We don't have any gale warning risk over any part of the country and we're not monitoring any low pressure area or tropical cyclone near or inside the Philippine area of responsibility.
36:19.4
And as you've mentioned earlier, several parts of the country may experience danger level of heat index or apparent temperature where it's 42 to 51 degrees Celsius.
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The highest among them is at Pili, Camarines Sur where the heat index may reach 48 degrees Celsius.
36:41.2
For Metro Manila and here in Quezon City, we're expecting 42 degrees Celsius heat index and for Pasay City, 142.
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We're expecting up to 43 degrees Celsius of heat index.
36:54.7
And that's the latest from Pagasa Weather Forecasting Center, Veronica C. Torres reporting.
36:59.3
All right, Veronica, just a quick question for you before I let you go.
37:02.6
So when you talk about the heat index though, is there a peak time of the day wherein this happens so that people outside would know more about this, that it's better for them to stay indoors during these times?
37:17.8
Go ahead, Veronica.
37:19.4
Usually, the highest temperature recorded is during, after lunch, maybe around 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
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But the maximum temperature can be also collected as early as 11 a.m.
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But you have to avoid going out of the house at maybe around 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. to avoid such heat index.
37:43.4
All right, thanks a lot, Veronica.
37:44.8
Great help there.
37:45.8
Veronica Torres there from Pagasa joining us this noon.
37:49.4
Now, motorists using the southbound lane of EDSA in Quezon City, they're advised to brace for a slowdown.
37:55.0
That's because the southbound lane of the EDSA Kamuning flyover is now temporarily closed for retrofitting works.
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Only buses using the EDSA carousel are permitted to pass through the flyover.
38:07.4
Motorists can utilize the EDSA Kamuning service road as well as the Mabuhay lanes.
38:12.4
Motorcycle riders, meanwhile, will be diverted to alternate routes, which include the streets of Scout Borromeo,
38:19.4
and Mother Ignatia Avenue.
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Sa ngayon po kasi sa aming count, 23,000 na motor.
38:27.7
So yung 23,000 na motor na po yan na yan ay pagagamitin na po natin lahat ng alternatibong ruta.
38:37.2
Siguro meron pang ilan na hindi pa nakakaalam.
38:40.4
So kaya nga nag-usap kami ng DPWH, yung contractor, na magdadagdag tayo ng signages,
38:46.2
magdadagdag din kami ng mga enforcers dito,
38:49.4
mag-guide yung ating mga motorista na kung pwede, mas marami sa kanila ang kumanan natin.
38:57.9
The retrofitting works are expected to last at least five months.
39:02.1
It's part of government efforts to make critical structures in Metro Manila earthquake resilient.
39:09.2
World News Now, as expected, the U.S. Federal Reserve leaves interest rates unchanged at a two-decade high.
39:16.0
Officials unanimously decided Wednesday to leave the key rate,
39:19.4
at 5.25 to 5.5 percent, where it has been since July.
39:24.7
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell admits the process of getting inflation sustainably down to its 2 percent target,
39:31.6
well, that has a long way to go.
39:33.3
According to the Fed's preferred inflation gauge,
39:35.5
the core personal consumption expenditures increased to 2.7 percent in March from a year earlier.
39:42.0
Despite this, the Fed chair allays concerns that sticky inflation would push the central bank to do another rate hike.
39:49.4
I think it's unlikely that the next policy rate move will be a hike.
39:54.8
I'd say it's unlikely.
39:57.5
You know, our policy focus is really what I just mentioned, which is how long to keep policy restrictive.
40:04.2
You ask, what would it take?
40:05.8
You know, I think we'd need to see persuasive evidence that our policy stance is not sufficiently restrictive
40:10.7
to bring inflation sustainably down to 2 percent over time.
40:13.6
That's not what we think we're seeing, as I mentioned.
40:16.5
But the economy has made considerable progress toward our dual market.
40:19.4
We've reached our full mandate objectives.
40:21.4
Inflation has eased substantially over the past year, while the labor market has remained strong.
40:26.8
And that's very good news.
40:28.8
But inflation is still too high.
40:31.4
Further progress in bringing it down is not assured.
40:34.7
And the path forward is uncertain.
40:38.4
We are fully committed to returning inflation to our 2 percent goal.
40:45.3
Hundreds of, make that pro-Palestinian protesters,
40:48.3
arrested at universities,
40:49.4
all across the U.S.
40:51.4
At least a dozen people were apprehended at the University of Wisconsin
40:55.4
as police moved into the campus to disassemble an encampment.
40:59.4
This follows the arrest of about 300 protesters at Columbia University and City College of New York.
41:06.4
In Los Angeles, 15 people were injured and one hospitalized after violent clashes at the University of California.
41:14.4
The nationwide demonstrations are part of the biggest outpouring of U.S. student activism.
41:19.4
Demanding an end to the war in Gaza.
41:22.4
The White House said President Joe Biden is getting regular updates on the situation.
41:29.4
We've been very clear on that.
41:31.4
Americans have the right to peacefully protest.
41:33.4
They have the right to peacefully protest.
41:35.4
As long as it's within the law and that it's peaceful.
41:38.4
Forcibly taking over a building is not peaceful.
41:44.4
Students have the right to feel safe.
41:46.4
They have the right to learn.
41:48.4
They have the right to do this without disruption.
41:51.4
And they have the right to feel safe on campus, as I just said.
41:54.4
They have the right to attend their commencement without feeling unsafe.
42:00.4
And what we're seeing is a small percentage of students.
42:03.4
That's what we're seeing.
42:04.4
They should not be able to disturb or disrupt the academic experience that students have.
42:13.4
Student activism has spilled over to the United Kingdom.
42:16.4
Students at the Newcastle University have set up tents and put up Palestinian flags as a protest against the war in Gaza.
42:23.4
Local media also reporting more students at various U.K. universities are joining the movement.
42:31.4
Palestinians gather in central Gaza to show their appreciation and support for the pro-Palestinian protests happening on university campuses.
42:39.4
They held Palestinian flags and signs with names of the universities where the demonstrations are taking place.
42:47.4
Thank you very much indeed for contributing and making our voice audible.
42:52.4
Thank you very much indeed for sharing our voice around the world.
42:55.4
I recommend you to go more and more, to continue more and more because I believe in the rights of academics.
43:01.4
I believe in the rights of the human beings.
43:03.4
Also, I believe that knowledge wins.
43:06.4
Knowledge always at the end wins.
43:08.4
We are here to thank you for standing with Gaza during these tough times.
43:13.4
Your support shows that...
43:15.4
Show that caring and kindness can go beyond the border.
43:20.4
Your voices are making a real difference.
43:23.4
Your support is incredible.
43:25.4
Your commitment to the humanitarian values and your dedication to make a real difference in the world are truly inspiring.
43:38.4
Colombia set to cut ties with Israel.
43:41.4
President Gustavo Petro made that announcement.
43:44.4
The left-wing president has heavily criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
43:49.4
and requested to join South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice.
43:59.4
We cut diplomatic ties because of them having a government, having a genocidal president.
44:04.4
I believe that today all of humanity in the streets by the millions agree with us and we agree with them.
44:12.4
The times of genocide, of the extermination of the entire people can't return before our eyes, before our passivity.
44:19.4
If Palestine dies, humanity dies.
44:22.4
And we will not let it die as we will not let humanity die.
44:29.4
The death toll from floods caused by torrential rains in southern Brazil climbs to 10.
44:34.4
Rescuers are also searching for 21 people reported missing.
44:38.4
The floods in the state of Rio Grande do Sul have displaced over 100,000 people.
44:42.4
In more than 100 municipalities.
44:45.4
The persistent rains have destroyed bridges and blocked roads leaving several communities completely cut off.
44:51.4
The governor has called it the worst disaster in the history of the state.
44:59.4
In sports, the Boston Celtics finally got rid of their nemesis the Miami Heat in the NBA playoffs.
45:04.4
The top-seeded Celtics demolished the Heat 118-84 in the series clinching game 5 victory.
45:11.4
The matchup was a one-sided affair as the Heat missed two starters Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier.
45:17.4
Jaylen Brown and Derek White scored 25 points to lead Boston which now advances to the second round of the postseason.
45:25.4
The Celtics will face the winner of the Cleveland-Orlando series.
45:41.4
And that will do it for today. Thanks for joining us.
45:55.4
I'm Carmina Constantino.
45:56.4
If you want to revisit today's episode, you can play back this newscast on our YouTube channel and on ANC 24-7 on Facebook.
46:02.4
Keep well, keep it here on the news channel.
46:11.4
We'll see you next time.
