Manila: Senator Raffy Tulfo on Thursday issued a stern warning to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), threatening to obstruct the approval of its proposed 2026 budget unless it takes decisive action against underperforming field inspectors.

According to Philippines News Agency, Tulfo, who serves as the vice chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, expressed his dissatisfaction with DOLE's current enforcement efforts during a committee hearing. He pointed out that numerous manufacturing companies in Metro Manila, which he personally inspected, are underpaying their workers, with some employees earning as little as PHP280 per day.

Tulfo criticized the discrepancy between wage increases and their inadequate implementation, suggesting a lack of seriousness in addressing the issue. He requested a detailed list from Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, containing information about DOLE field inspectors in Metro Manila and the Camanava area, including the companies they visited and their performance reports. This request aims to evaluate whether the inspectors are effectively executing their duties.

Senator Tulfo emphasized that if DOLE personnel were performing their responsibilities as expected, they would have already identified companies failing to pay appropriate wages. In response to the senator's concerns, Secretary Laguesma assured Tulfo that he takes the matter seriously and is committed to resolving the issues raised.