- 9 minutes ago
Will the latest wage hike in Cebu be enough to keep up with the rising cost of living?
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has announced a wage increase affecting workers in Central Visayas, raising questions about how the adjustment will impact employees, businesses, and the local economy.
Beyond the peso increase, what does the new wage order mean for workers’ daily expenses, employers’ operating costs, and Cebu’s workforce?
Join us on Beyond the Headlines. Look Deeper. Think Better.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has announced a wage increase affecting workers in Central Visayas, raising questions about how the adjustment will impact employees, businesses, and the local economy.
Beyond the peso increase, what does the new wage order mean for workers’ daily expenses, employers’ operating costs, and Cebu’s workforce?
Join us on Beyond the Headlines. Look Deeper. Think Better.
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NewsTranscript
01:00One cup at a time.
01:01Your perfect latte is ready.
01:04Coffee first, then everything else.
01:1042 pesos.
01:12This is the latest increase in the daily minimum wage for private sector workers in Central Visayas.
01:19But the question here is, is 42 pesos enough?
01:24And the other question is, how much more can we afford to pay without businesses and ultimately jobs at risk?
01:33So good afternoon.
01:34Welcome to Beyond the Headlines.
01:36I'm DJ Moises.
01:37And today's conversation is brought to us by Coffee First.
01:41So how does the wage board arrive at the number?
01:44What goes into that decision?
01:47And how much should inflation and the cost of living matter?
01:52So let's look deeper and think better today.
01:55So joining us to help us make sense in all this is Dr. Philip Tan, management representative of the Regional
02:02Tripartate Wages and Productivity Board for Region 7.
02:06So hello, Dr. Tan.
02:07Welcome back to Beyond the Headlines.
02:08It's always an honor, Moises, to be back.
02:11And I think two months ago, I was also here.
02:13Yes, and today's conversation is closer to home.
02:20So let's talk about 42 pesos.
02:24So why 42 pesos?
02:26And how did the wage board arrive at that number?
02:31Okay, let's do it this way.
02:34Labor usually petitions a certain amount for them to start the negotiation.
02:40So there was one group wanting for 1,200 minimum wage, which was coming from the BPO sector.
02:50Yeah, I heard about that.
02:51And of course, there was one group also asking 100 and increasing it into 132.
02:59So finally, when the negotiation started, the labor sector started negotiating for 132 increase.
03:10And of course, while we were trying to hear the different economic indicators as to will justify the amount asked
03:22by labor and the amount that would be afforded by management.
03:27So it's not an easy task, actually, Moises, for both to come up with a reasonable agreement.
03:38There is no reasonability in these numbers.
03:42Both parties, between labor and management, will always say that it's too much for management and too small for labor.
03:49But how to survive in this kind of economic situation or any industry to survive is the biggest challenge.
03:59So can you walk us through on the process so that we are better and more aware?
04:06Okay, we went into public consultation and of course, we also went into public reviews with the different sectors and
04:20the companies.
04:21And we went to eight sessions with them in different areas of Visayas and the Region 7.
04:31Domaguete was still part of us temporarily until next year, wherein they will be able to come up with their
04:38own wage board already.
04:39So as of the moment, we went to Domaguete to also conduct a public hearing.
04:46Then after which all these numbers were gathered and that came in to give us the numbers from different areas
05:02like inflation, poverty index, of course, consumer price index.
05:11All these things that will lead to justify how much amount labor is asking and of course for management also
05:21to say that we can only afford so much considering that business is bad, GDP is low, inflation is high,
05:32consumption is everything.
05:34I think all these things that will be considered as part of the negotiation to come up with finality of
05:41the amount.
05:43So 42 was something that labor didn't expect it to be that small.
05:51And of course, management also was telling me that it is also too big because business is bad.
06:00But I think the final consideration here, why it is small, because primarily most increase of wages will hit the
06:10micro-small companies.
06:12So medium and large, they can absorb their paying well, their employees more than the minimum wage.
06:18So they can absorb more of the impact and they have retained earnings that can soften the impact also.
06:27But for the micro-small that are hand-to-mouth, this is very crucial for them.
06:32And I think a lot of micro-small have started filling the pinch and some of them are really close
06:39up.
06:39And you look at restaurants in the big malls and you will feel that the spending has really changed.
06:47So speaking of numbers, what I have here, and correct me if I'm wrong, for Cebu province, inflation is at
06:549.5%.
06:56And this is in fact higher than Visayas.
06:59This is August 2026, by the way.
07:01This is higher compared to Central Visayas, which is 8.1%, which is also higher compared to the national inflation,
07:09which is 6.1%.
07:12And much of the pressure is really on food, transportation, and even housing and utilities.
07:20So because this is also will have an impact both on the employer and also on the employees.
07:28From what you have observed, because you went through several meetings, Mangyud,
07:36is it still possible, at least as of this time, for us to really hit the balance?
07:44Central Visayas is very unique on its own.
07:51Because right now, Cebu in particular, we are like Singapore already.
08:01Food, we do not produce our own food.
08:04Everything is imported either foreign or local within our sister islands.
08:11And when fuel went up, automatically logistics costs, which is, Cebu is a logistic hub.
08:20So when the cost to transport food and items from international or national goes up, everything goes up also.
08:31But when things are good also, Cebu will also experience it.
08:35It's just unfortunate right now that tourism is down and most of our export is also not doing well.
08:47So these are indicators that very challenging it would be in the next month or central Visayas to absorb this
09:01kind of impact.
09:02So we will tackle first the business side and then the workers' side.
09:07On the business side, because the workers are obviously feeling the pain.
09:16But what's on the side of the business also that workers need to understand?
09:24Well, we are not a charitable institution.
09:28We are there to make money.
09:29So if we lose money or we are not making money, then it's a management decision to continue or to
09:39downscale,
09:40waiting things to get better than for you to position.
09:45So it's never going to be an easy consideration.
09:51But it has been quite some time already, six months when we started with the Middle East.
10:01And even last year when the corruption scandal started and business started to slow down.
10:08Even right now, the budget for the public spending for DPWH is not there.
10:14So even if they will release that amount of money, inflation is going to go up also.
10:21So they have to control the money in circulation.
10:25That is why being part of that DPWH program is also very challenging for government to balance the books.
10:36So I know that most businessmen right now are contemplating already the balance sheet comes October 14th,
10:45wherein the impact starts to come in.
10:48So we expect another two months to settle down whether in finality,
10:54what kind of decision management will be finalizing in their position to survive.
11:01And by the way, this one, I am not very sure about my number.
11:06So you can confirm or disagree.
11:10But MSMEs, if I remember it correctly, in the Philippines, they account for about 99%.
11:18But very high, no?
11:20If you remove the medium, that's roughly 90%.
11:23The micro-small is roughly 90%.
11:26So you add on the medium is another 7% to 8%.
11:30So that is micro-small, medium is around 98%.
11:37Oh, sige, 98%.
11:40So what is that?
11:43My concern is more on the 90%.
11:45Very good.
11:46Because I think that's also one part that I'd like our viewers to capture.
11:51Because if they're 90%, and they are potentially the ones who will bear much of the shock of this price
12:01increase.
12:02Oh no, wage increase.
12:06Well, normally the micro-small are companies that are employing 10 or less.
12:12So if your overhead is not very much, survival might be within.
12:23But if you have to pay rentals that are very expensive, and your utilities with our electricity heating between 15
12:39to 18 pesos per kilowatt.
12:42Of course, I do not blame Beko about that, because Beko will always tell you that it is also a
12:48pass-on, or pass-through charges.
12:50So they only make a little out of that.
12:53I have so many friends in Beko.
12:55I think they're also watching right now.
12:57And by the way, Beko is our sponsor.
13:01So that's why I have to be a spokesman of Beko right now, that this is a pass-through.
13:06But what will impact the business right now are how you manage your costs.
13:13Assuming that there is no volume of your business.
13:18If there is a volume, that can easily be absorbed.
13:20But if business is slow, then your fixed costs, that is where you have to understand fixed costs and variable
13:30costs.
13:31That will come in very handy for businessmen to consider.
13:36You have to know what are your fixed costs and your variable costs.
13:40Variable costs, you can easily adjust.
13:43But your fixed costs is something that is going to be bloody.
13:46For example, employment.
13:48Employment is fixed costs.
13:51So if you have no customer, but you have to pay your salary.
13:57You cannot say, because Dole will be after you if you will not pay the right salary also.
14:02Variable costs, utilities usually is variable costs.
14:06You switch on, you switch off the lights, then your cost goes down.
14:12But very important right now is your fixed costs.
14:16So if we are to, we'll move to the worker side.
14:19But for the last question on the business side.
14:22So if we look at the 90%, and then eventually stretch to 98%, which is,
14:29And the reason why I'm highlighting that, because sometimes our viewers are misled to think,
14:35if they see big corporations, they would think, ah, they're a majority of the businesses in the Philippines.
14:41And hopefully by now, they are better educated that these are just 2% or 1% of the business.
14:48Majority of our businesses in the Philippines are actually MSMEs.
14:53So at what, given the situation, at what point can we, although I know we cannot really categorically give an
15:05absolute answer,
15:06But at what point do you also see that if the wage will keep on increasing, given also the state
15:15of our inflation, unemployment, and even growth on how the economy is expanding,
15:21At what point can we say that such an increase will already put jobs at risk?
15:29And the context of this is for those who are watching,
15:36But we also have to realize that if we keep doing this, and the condition of the economy is also
15:42not very strong,
15:44Then it might come into a point that it's already putting your jobs at risk.
15:49So, well, trying to balance the welfare of our employees is also a priority.
15:57Because if we cannot be within, then the problem is we will lose also our employees.
16:07Our employees are also important to us, and we also try to take care of them.
16:13But that is also where government should also come in.
16:17And I have always been emphasizing that the government during these times should really come in to take care of
16:26both the sectors, labor and management.
16:29But so far, government has been doing something about the ayuda, trying to take care of Tupad and all these
16:39things,
16:39and trying to make things meet when they can survive.
16:43But so far, business sector, I have yet to see a tangible assistance program that really has benefited us also.
16:54But of course, anything on the side, management is always going to get the first sacrificial lamb of the whole
17:07situation.
17:08So, sad to say that it is not for us to dictate who will survive and who will be sacrificed.
17:19But we hope that by this time, government has to really come in and make both sectors as fluid as
17:31possible.
17:31Otherwise, sacrificing the goose that lays the golden egg is going to be also something for them to consider if
17:40the economy is going down.
17:42So, because I hear your points about potentially more government interventions this time.
17:50But for the benefit of our viewers and their education, this time aside, if we have businesses who are watching,
17:57we will also go into this part of the interview on the perspective of your workers.
18:05On the workers' side, the most common that we hear is, when a business succeeds, a portion of that is
18:14also because of the workers.
18:18And even if the economy is growing slower, but at least there is still growth.
18:25That's always what they say.
18:26So, should workers also need to have their share of the growth?
18:33That's also their point.
18:35It's always going to grow, but should we also not be part of that growth?
18:44I normally encounter that kind of question.
18:47So, my answer is very simple.
18:50I said, create your value to the employees.
18:55Create your value.
18:56Create your talent.
18:57Create your skills.
18:59Now, if you're very productive and you're highly skilled, you don't need the minimum wage to dictate your salary.
19:08Because companies are willing to pay double, triple your minimum wage.
19:13Especially at this time.
19:14Yes.
19:15Now, technology-driven companies, they pay high.
19:19So, let's not focus on menial jobs.
19:22Because menial jobs, janitor, anybody can replace a janitor.
19:28So, sooner or later, maybe robots are going to take care of it.
19:32Even restaurants right now, the waiters and waiters, some of them I saw already in other countries.
19:39It's robots already taking over.
19:42So, things, technology are going, AI is going to create something also.
19:48So, my suggestion, let's not focus on your minimum wage.
19:52Focus on your talent and skills that you can go beyond the minimum requirement.
19:58Because if you are just going to look at your minimum wage as the way to survive and your talent
20:04and skills are still the same, I don't think we are going anywhere.
20:09So, countries with all the growth right now have talented employees.
20:16But if we are all just waiting farmers, they do not practice the kind of technology in farming.
20:25Only use carabao, the productivity per hectare is very low.
20:30Correct.
20:30Then, your cost is high.
20:33That is not going to balance the books.
20:37So, in the wage setting process, how much of it is influenced by cost of living, which is on the
20:47workers' side?
20:50So, it is true that the minimum wage right now cannot already support a family of five.
20:59I will agree to what Labor has been saying.
21:03But I also tell them that in other countries, in one family, at least two should work.
21:12We cannot use that analogy that only one will feed the family of five.
21:16Because otherwise, that will not make anyone.
21:20And I think for the next question, you already covered it earlier.
21:25How do we give workers enough purchasing power?
21:29And I hope our viewers were able to capture that.
21:33It's not just about increasing the wage, correct me if I'm wrong, but it's also about increasing productivity and value.
21:44That's also one part, at least in my opinion, that's often missed by workers' side said.
21:50For the same content and the same productivity, they expect the wage to change, to increase.
21:56Instead of finding ways also to improve the content of the job and also the value that it brings.
22:05And part of that is productivity.
22:08So, should wages rise simply?
22:12And this is now education also for viewers now.
22:15Although you've covered this earlier.
22:17So, should wages rise simply because of cost of living?
22:24Or do you think it's about time also, and this is on the government's side, that we should also find
22:31ways to have better quality of work for Filipinos?
22:36So that we will not be talking, as you said, about just the minimum wage, no?
22:41But because of the type of work that we have in the Philippines, then these are also the type of
22:46work that's not paid minimum.
22:48Okay, I think the best way for me to explain it is comparing our country with ASEAN countries.
22:57I think the closest way I can compare with is Vietnam.
23:04Vietnam, we were more than any years ahead of them.
23:08But right now, they're the number one FDI, foreign direct investment.
23:14Food is stable, cheap, because farming is, we buy our rice from them.
23:20So meaning, they have high productivity.
23:23And Vietnam is a communist country.
23:25But yet, they're able to grow because government allowed business sector to really come in.
23:34And right now, the wages of Vietnam, labor wages, are going higher and higher because why?
23:43They are being needed by the foreign direct investors.
23:49The factories and everything.
23:51Right now, you see our taxes.
23:53That is made in Vietnam.
23:56See?
23:56The country that we looked down before are going faster than us because they create the value wherein government provided
24:07that environment for the private sector to grow.
24:12So, I'll try not to blame government.
24:19I try to explain this by comparative analysis between nations.
24:24Now, Cambodia is also growing faster.
24:28Laos is also growing faster.
24:30What will happen to our country wherein we will stagnate at the last level?
24:35And by the way, this is on the context of ITBPM.
24:39And hopefully, this will not get me into trouble.
24:43But Vietnam is also a good benchmark for us.
24:47Because as of this time, we know that their English proficiency is not yet to the same level as the
24:56Philippines.
24:57And so, in their ITBPM, they're more intentional.
25:01At least from my observation, they focus on higher value of work.
25:04Such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and the higher value technology.
25:11Because they could not compete man with contact centers.
25:14And no offense meant for call center workers.
25:17But,
25:23So, what happens is,
25:26Murag, practically, what we've been doing 20 years ago is still practically the same thing that we are doing as
25:33a call center.
25:34Watani graduate towards the higher value work.
25:36So, Mauna,
25:38Ang pressure na noon karoon sa cost,
25:41Ang the same content of work,
25:44Ganaan na itong mahalo ng bayad.
25:47Instead of
25:49Working on ways na mo graduate na into IT and development work,
25:53So that, mas dako ang bayad.
25:55So,
25:55And I'm glad that you also brought that up.
25:58Because that's also the same Vietnam-Philippines conversation that we're also having in the Philippines.
26:03Oh no, in the ITBPM space.
26:04So now, let's go to
26:06Kaning Murag, more specific na yun about how to bridge this gap.
26:09Because clear namang yun karoon na workers would say,
26:12I cannot live on a current wage.
26:14And then on the other side said,
26:15On the employers,
26:16Especially that 90% of them are micro and small,
26:19They will also say na,
26:21I cannot pay much more.
26:23So, who is going to bridge this gap?
26:27Well, that is where taxes goes.
26:30That is where government has to come in
26:32And create the right environment for both labor and management to co-exist.
26:38We are not here to eat up labor at their expense.
26:42And of course, management also is there also to also recover our investment.
26:49So, these are things that, that is where the challenge comes into government.
26:56Wherein policies are consistent, direction should be well planned.
27:00Then, for every leadership change, there should be continuity.
27:08If you look at Singapore, they have this 20, 30 year plan.
27:13Even if you change the prime minister, they do not change the direction.
27:18Because that is supposed to sustain our country.
27:22But, even within the barangay level, if there is a new barangay captain,
27:27He will change his, because he reflects that he owns that time to create something different.
27:36And, I don't mind that if it's really that good.
27:39You know, if it's not that bad, it's bad also.
27:43So, it pulls that down again.
27:45So, I don't know.
27:47But, my friends in government, they're viewing right now.
27:52So, I think I will throw in the challenge to them.
27:55And, I said, well, we will argue every year about wage distortions, wage adjustment, and everything.
28:04But, I don't see the numbers within the government that is also improving.
28:11So, so.
28:13Sige.
28:14So, napagay mas kona ni mas kona question.
28:18But, the purpose of this is, for those who are watching, we have a better appreciation on the different sides.
28:28If you recall, at least for the viewers, last week, we talked about the need to increase the fare.
28:35Mutong jeepney strike ang mong topic.
28:37And then, ipasa, at least, that's not as simple as that.
28:40But, murag it appeared, ipasa na ito ang burden to the commuters.
28:44Ang commuters po, nagsigipaganig fight sa ilang wage increase.
28:48Dungagan pagyod na ito.
28:49So, at that time, we were asking, murag, can our parents already start coming in, no?
28:55K murag, ipasa-pasa naman lang na ito.
28:57Karonsad, in this context, how can we, at least in your view, no?
29:01How can we also prevent bang conversations like wages?
29:05It's not about employees versus employers or employers versus employees.
29:11Sometimes it looks like that.
29:17In all honesty, government, I know, is also facing a lot of problems right now.
29:23So, trying to balance the books and trying to put in where the money should go.
29:31So, I know it takes time for them to really make and implement whatever policies or programs that they have
29:40right now.
29:42Government, if you look at it, there are so many programs.
29:45There are good programs.
29:46Of course, some self-serving programs.
29:49A lot of programs.
29:50But the question there is always about execution.
29:55You know, one program takes you six months and it's not yet even there.
30:00And all, it's the time involved for people to decide in government.
30:12I don't know what.
30:13But we businessmen, we cannot afford delays.
30:17We are like in ICU right now.
30:20Every minute is always important to us.
30:23But when you ask government, they will always give you a runaround and stories, this and this and that and
30:29everything.
30:30Then, who wants to invest in a country?
30:34Well, implementation, executions is already a problem.
30:41So, I don't know.
30:43I have so many friends in government.
30:45They will look at me again and say, Philip, you know, you have to understand we can only do so
30:50much, etc., etc.
30:52But in business, opportunities are in seconds, in minutes, not in months and years.
30:58So, I'm sorry.
31:00If we have to wait, the consequence also, labor will be affected.
31:05Not only us, labor also.
31:09If business cannot grow as fast, then labor cannot be absorbed also.
31:14So, there are so many graduates right now.
31:17So, you look at that.
31:20If unemployment is high, where does this new graduate come in?
31:25That's another burden.
31:26Difficulty?
31:26Yes.
31:27So, I...
31:32Maybe...
31:33It's a very frustrating question.
31:36And I will spare you for the next and I'll just make it as my comment.
31:40I'll spare you.
31:41So, that's why more and more people are actually looking at questions.
31:48Aside from increasing the wages as our knee-jerk reaction, that's why more and more people are asking,
31:57should we start looking just as seriously on food, transportation, electricity, and other necessities to bring them down?
32:08So, I will spare you from it.
32:13So, we have a few comments coming from our viewers, no?
32:18So, maybe we can show them.
32:24Before I'll...
32:25Okay.
32:26So, the first is coming from Charmaine, no?
32:29So, her comment is,
32:31The wage adjustment is intended to provide workers with greater financial capacity to meet their essential needs amid the continuing
32:38increase on the cost of living.
32:40And I'll just move towards the end, no?
32:42Ultimately, the wage hike seeks to enhance the overall welfare and dignity of workers and contribute to a better quality
32:49of life.
32:49So, I think this echoes the sentiment on the workers' side, no?
32:54Nagkamahalang palaliton, nagsakaang atuang cost of living.
32:58And so, increasing the...
33:00Whatever increase there is, no?
33:02Would benefit not just the worker but their families.
33:05The next one, because I think we have three, no?
33:07The next one is workers' gihapon, no?
33:12A wage increase provides workers with greater financial capacity to meet their essential needs and cope with the rising cost
33:19of living.
33:21So, workers' gihapon, nagsakaang aside from Samantha Nicole Gallius, no?
33:25And then finally, I hope na'y representation din hi from the business sector.
33:30Agui workers' gihapon, no?
33:32I think the wage hike will help workers with daily needs, no?
33:36Like food, bills, and transportation.
33:38And by the way, before we...
33:40Before I ask my final question, no?
33:43Because...
33:44Kanang...
33:45Kanang...
33:45Kanang...
33:46I hope no kanang...
33:48We clearly understood the side of the workers because at the end of the day,
33:55daghan man sang workers in the Philippines compared to entrepreneurs, no?
34:00So, correct ko?
34:02Oh.
34:02So, so...
34:04That's...
34:05Those sentiments are actually heard, no?
34:07But the other piece, hopefully, that viewers would understand is, again, 90% of our businesses in the Philippines,
34:16while you see huge brands and logos, they're just 2%, no?
34:20So, yes, you were about to say something.
34:22Okay.
34:23I truly agree with the commentaries of labor, no?
34:27So, the social component, the social justice of wages is to make sure that the ordinary one de la Cruz
34:38would be able to survive.
34:41Okay?
34:42And granting that the environment given will allow also management to really go after employees that are part of their
34:55survival.
34:56So, meaning, if you're productive, you contribute much to the success of the company,
35:03labor automatically will be paid more even without the minimum wage.
35:11Okay?
35:12Now, companies right now are also looking for this kind of talent right now.
35:20So, maybe there would be one of the problems, I think, is sometimes there is a mismatch of skills and
35:29talents on what is needed in the company level.
35:34So, with technology, it's fast moving on.
35:38And employees are not also fast to learn.
35:43The gap widens and the cost goes higher.
35:47So, very important is both labor and management should agree that when they exist, the need for each other should
35:57always be there.
35:58So, when we start to sacrifice one for the other, then that is where the gap comes in.
36:04And that is very dangerous because that will also create some animosities about the relationship.
36:14So, we hope that, as I've said, management cannot live without labor.
36:22That is very crucial.
36:25And we hope that also labor will also be sympathetic to your job and to really contribute to the welfare
36:34of the company.
36:35What if our company, I have been there for 10 years, 20 years, then they still don't give us the
36:43right wages.
36:44And it's your mistake to have stayed in that company.
36:48You should have left that company long before.
36:50See, you are not entitled to stay in that kind of a company that abuses labor.
36:56So, I am not only through management.
37:00I said, there are management that abuses labor.
37:04Resign, go out, find another job.
37:06Leave them.
37:08Don't stay with that kind of company.
37:10And another 20 years of your agony, by the time you retire, nothing happens to the world.
37:18See, so, I think that is very important to us.
37:23Create your values, I've said.
37:25Then, if you feel that your company is not doing good to you, resign and seek another company.
37:32Because if you're really talented as you are, a lot of companies right now are highly talented.
37:40In fact, even if the unemployment is high, but Dole job fair data would tell us that the number of
37:50vacant positions is also high.
37:52Imagine.
37:53Unemployment is high, vacant positions are high.
37:56So, there is a mismatch.
37:57A mismatch, yes.
37:58That's why Dole also have this program, they call it upskilling program.
38:02So, existing employees, they subsidize their retooling and upskilling program funded by Dole.
38:12But, of course, you'll have to qualify for that kind of program.
38:15But, the important part is, the priority is, of course, to preserve the existing before we…
38:23Because if you cannot retool the existing, then there's no point of…
38:26In an outland.
38:27In an outland.
38:28If the new ones are not really that ready, but if retooling sometimes works better, then we have to go
38:35to that level already.
38:36So, that preserves the employment and creates their value.
38:41And, just like my company, two years after, they leave Ambrun.
38:47Because they have the right skills and the right talent and attitude.
38:51So, two years, three years, they leave Ambrun.
38:54So, I'm happy for them.
38:55And, then my company becomes a training ground for this to become OFW.
39:01I don't mind.
39:02That's part of life.
39:04So, those are very interesting points for the worker side.
39:08That would have been my second to the last question.
39:10So, my final question, actually, is how about for our entrepreneurs, our businessmen?
39:15What are your parting shots, man said, for them, given the situation we are in now?
39:22Well, right now, for companies right now, if the overhead is going higher and higher, we have to adapt technologies
39:32right now.
39:32So, AI is a very important tool.
39:35In fact, right now, I'm almost 70, but I'm still learning how to use AI right now.
39:39You know, all my decisions, I consult AI just to get the feel.
39:43So, you have some starting point.
39:46Now, efficiency, productivity, of course.
39:50Your system has to be aligned with a lot of things that will reduce your cost, then create efficiency.
39:58So, these are investments.
40:00These are not, of course, software is one.
40:03Software integrated with AI already.
40:05That's already norms right now in software development, that it is already part of AI, wherein the software result, the
40:15AI translates it into red flags or whatever.
40:19You command AI to do the numbers for you.
40:23So, these are the developments that will encompass with worldwide standards already.
40:31So, we have to compete with other countries.
40:36I'm sorry, but if we will just look at things on a domestic level and we will say,
40:43Oh, Lord, please grant me and I will pray for you that you have to bless me and all these
40:47things.
40:48I'm sorry, but things cannot just be on that level.
40:52But we have to do something about that.
40:54So, hopefully, with government intervention and putting the right perspective and the ease of doing business,
41:07the Philippines is still worth dying for.
41:10And I will die for this country.
41:12I will not go abroad.
41:13Even my children are here.
41:14And I told them, Philippines is still a country that is worth dying for.
41:19Maybe we are just few that are willing to die.
41:23But I think a few is better than none.
41:27Okay?
41:28So, I hope that with these conversations that we had for Moises, I thank you very much for such an
41:36occasion again.
41:37And we are always just as grateful for providing also your insights that cover both the worker side and also
41:49the business side.
41:51Because at the end of the day, this is not about workers versus employers and vice versa.
41:56This is for us, Cebu and the Philippines.
42:00So, 42 pesos more a day beginning October 14.
42:07For a worker, it can mean a little more room in the family budget.
42:12For an employer, it also means a little more in the cost of doing business.
42:18The wage debate is not simply about pesos.
42:23Behind the peso value are workers trying to make ends meet
42:27and businesses trying to keep people employed.
42:32That's why we have to continue to think deeper for us to look.
42:39Oh, no.
42:40We have to continue to look deeper for us to be able to think better.
42:44So, I'm DJ Moises.
42:46Thank you very much for joining us today.
42:49This is Beyond the Headlines.
42:50Have a good afternoon.
42:52Okay.
42:57It starts with a fresh shot of espresso.
43:01Bold.
43:02Rich.
43:03Pulled just right.
43:07Then comes the milk.
43:09Steamed smooth.
43:10Creamy.
43:11And balanced.
43:12The perfect latte is not brushed.
43:15It is crafted.
43:16One cup at a time.
43:18Your perfect latte is ready.
43:21Coffee first.
43:23Then, everything else.
43:28The best in the future.
43:31There is a dark side.
43:38there is no computer sorority.
43:39The best as well.
43:44ISTREM.
43:45Have a great看 strengthened.
43:45Bye.
43:45Bye.
43:45Bye.
43:45Bye.
43:52Bye.
43:55Bye.