Former senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino’s appointment as the new Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) secretary drew both praise and relief from House of Representatives members.

The praise part came from Cavite 1st district Rep. Jolo Revilla, chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Employment.

“Malugod nating tinatanggap ang appointment ni former Senator Francis Tolentino bilang bagong Kalihim ng [DOLE]. Bilang kapwa Caviteño, kilala natin si Secretary Tolentino bilang isang mahusay, masipag, at result-oriented na public servant na may malawak na karanasan sa pamahalaan,” Revilla said on Monday, May 25.

(We warmly welcome the appointment of former Senator Francis Tolentino as the new Secretary of the [DOLE]. As fellow Caviteños, we know Secretary Tolentino as a capable, hardworking, and result‑oriented public servant with extensive government experience.)

“Naniniwala tayo na malaki ang maitutulong ng kanyang leadership sa pagpapalakas ng labor sector, lalo na sa usapin ng job generation, workers’ protection, skills development, at pag-adapt sa mabilis na pagbabago ng global economy,” he added.

(We believe his leadership will greatly strengthen the labor sector, especially in job generation, workers’ protection, skills development, and adapting to the rapid changes of the global economy.)

Revilla expressed confidence that Tolentino’s extensive background in public service and administration would help strengthen government efforts to protect workers, expand employment opportunities, and address emerging labor concerns amid changing economic conditions.

Meanwhile, Kamanggagawa Party-list Rep. Eli San Fernando--perhaps the most vocal labor sector representative in the House--expressed "immense relief" that DOLE's erstwhile secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, has been replaced or by his own description, "sacked".

“Sa wakas ay sinipa na ni PBBM (President Bongbong Marcos) si Secretary Benny (Finally PBBM has sacked Secretary Benny), the worst Labor Secretary in the history of our country. He was a ghost secretary whose greatest achievement for workers might have been his resignation," San Fernando said.

He says Tolentino is taking over the reins at DOLE at a time when the country’s workers feel most abandoned.

“Aabutan niya ang isang DOLE na walang aksyon sa talamak na labor violations, tahasang pagkampi sa mga malalaking negosyo, at hayagang pagtuligsa sa pagtaas ng sahod at pagbubuwag ng provincial rate. Ni walang naitulak na kahit isang seryosong dialogue sa pagitan ng Pangulo at ng mga manggagawa," San Fernando said.

(He will inherit a DOLE that has taken no action on rampant labor violations, openly sided with big businesses, and publicly opposed wage increases and the abolition of provincial rates. Not even a single serious dialogue between the President and the workers has been initiated.)

"The bar is on the floor, and Filipino workers expect real, structural change, not just a change in leadership,” he added.

According to Revilla, coordination between Congress and the DOLE would be essential in advancing reforms that directly benefit Filipino workers and their families.

“As chairperson of the House Committee on Labor and Employment, I look forward to working closely with Secretary Tolentino in pursuing meaningful reforms and programs that will improve the lives of Filipino workers here and abroad,” he said.

San Fernando, for his part, directed the following message to the new DOLE chief: “Secretary Tolentino, the workers do not need another bureaucrat who tinkers with simulations in their airconditioned room as our workers are struggling to survive. We need a fighter. We hope you rise to the challenge and prove to workers that DOLE is truly under new management."

"Start by backing the abolition of the provincial rate system and the immediate passage of a legislated wage increase. Anything less is just a continuation of the same neglect that pushed our workers to starve,” he concluded.