Philippine economic growth would continue to underperform this year and next as the country faces not only headwinds from a prolonged war in the Middle East but also domestic challenges related to politics and corruption, according to the Institute of International Finance (IIF). The IIF’s latest...
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is beginning to threaten jobs, remittances, and labor markets across the Asia-Pacific region, including the Philippines, according to the Geneva-based International Labor Organization (ILO). In its latest Employment and Social Trends: May 2026 Update titled...
President Marcos paid tribute to Filipino workers, calling them the “backbone” of the nation and vowing to expand job opportunities and strengthen labor protections. In his Labor Day message posted on Friday, May 1, the President said workers continue to drive the country forward despite...
Philippine economic growth in 2026 would have hit the government’s downgraded target range had the war in the Middle East been short-lived, according to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). However, the Bangkok-headquartered UNESCAP said a...
As tensions continue in parts of the Middle East, the Department of Education (DepEd) reached out to thousands of Filipino teachers, students, and families abroad, offering not just policy guidance, but reassurance. In an “Online Kumustahan” held on Tuesday, April 7, DepEd checked on more than...
For a lot of Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) teachers, returning home is not just about finding a job; it is about coming to terms with the sacrifices they made while working abroad. Teacher I Aylene Lara knows this all too well. "I didn’t want to work abroad for a very long time because it’s...
If the war in the Middle East prolongs and global oil prices continue to skyrocket, the Philippine peso could breach the ₱61:$1 level in the second quarter of 2026 and even hit as low as ₱62 to ₱64 against the United States (US) dollar. “Our base case forecasts for the US dollar-Philippine...
State-run pension fund Social Security System (SSS) has reassured its members in the Middle East that they can continue accessing benefits and services through its digital platforms, even amid escalating regional conflicts. SSS President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Robert Joseph M. de Claro...
The Senate has approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to provide overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families with free financial literacy education to protect their earnings and promote economic security. Sen. Raffy Tulfo, who chairs the Committee on Migrant Workers, thanked...
The Senate has approved on third and final reading the bill seeking to protect overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) remittances by requiring transparency in fees and foreign exchange rates. Sen. Joel Villanueva, sponsor of Senate Bill No. 1917, otherwise known as the Overseas Filipino Workers’...
Senator Raffy Tulfo welcomed the Senate 's approval on second reading of the “Free OFW Financial Literacy Education Act” or Senate Bill (SB) No. 1910 on Wednesday, March 11. Tulfo, principal sponsor and one of the authors of SB No. 1910, said the timely bill provides for free financial...
Senator Raffy Tulfo is pushing for the immediate passage of his proposed Senate Bill No. 1839, also known as the “Bagong Balikbayan Act,” which aims to provide overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with opportunities to sustainably rebuild their livelihoods upon returning to the Philippines. Tulfo,...
