JP Juan Advocate

05/06/2025

⚠️ Why a ₱200 Wage Hike is Inappropriate for the Philippine Economy

1. 💼 99% of Businesses in the Philippines are MSMEs
According to DTI, over 99% of registered businesses are Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, which typically have tight profit margins. A sharp wage hike could force many to downsize or close.

2. 📉 Risk of Layoffs and Business Closures
A ₱200 daily wage increase significantly raises labor costs. Many MSMEs may respond with layoffs, reduced hours, or closure, especially in retail, food, and manufacturing sectors.

3. 🎓 Job Disparity for Non-Graduates
A flat wage hike applies equally to all, regardless of education. Since more than 50% of Filipino workers did not finish college, this makes it harder for them to get hired as their rate becomes equal to graduates, reducing their competitive edge in job applications.

4. 📈 Inflationary Effect
Businesses often pass higher wage costs to consumers, increasing prices of goods and services. This can lead to a cycle of inflation that erodes the purchasing power of the wage hike itself.

5. 📊 Disproportionate Impact in Provinces
Rural businesses, especially in agriculture and trade, may not be able to afford uniform increases. A one-size-fits-all policy neglects regional economic realities.

6. 💸 No Wage Support for MSMEs
The government lacks strong programs to subsidize private sector wage hikes, unlike in advanced economies. MSMEs will bear the full brunt of increased payroll costs.

7. ⚠️ Threat to Entry-Level and Youth Employment
Employers may become more selective, avoiding first-time jobseekers or unskilled workers, who now cost as much as more experienced or educated applicants.

8. 📉 Growth of Informal Employment
To cope with rising labor costs, more employers may shift to contractual or informal arrangements, reducing job security and employee benefits

Ano Tingin mo Ka-Bayan?

₱200 NA DAGDAG SA SAHOD, APRUBADO NA SA KONGRESO!

Inaprubahan na sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa ng Kamara ang panukalang ₱200 minimum wage increase para sa mga manggagawa sa pribadong sektor.

Ang panukalang batas ay naipasa sa boto na 171-yes, 1-no, at 0-abstain.

Kung maisasabatas, ito ang magiging kauna-unahang legislated wage hike sa bansa sa loob ng 36 na taon.

31/05/2025

Lock down again ? 😱🤯

🇵🇭 PHILIPPINES MPOX UPDATE
As of May 29, 2025

🚨 Breaking News: Davao de Oro Confirms First Case
📍 Davao de Oro (Davao Region)
✅ Confirmed: 1 case (Maco)
⚠️ Suspected: 2 in Maco, 1 in Nabunturan
🏥 Local Response:
Emergency measures activated.
Contact tracing and testing ongoing.
Face mask mandates in place in some municipalities.
📌 Summary by Region
📍 Mindanao
Confirmed: 19 cases
South Cotabato – 10
Sultan Kudarat – 3
Davao City – 2
Maguindanao del Norte – 2
North Cotabato – 1
Zamboanga Sibugay – 1
Suspected: 6 (including Cotabato City, Maguindanao del Norte & Sur)
📍 Iloilo City (Western Visayas)
Confirmed: 1
Suspected: 4
📍 Baguio City (CAR)
Confirmed: 4
Precautions enforced during public festivals and gatherings.
🛡️ PH DOH Public Safety Guidelines
🧼 Wash hands frequently or use alcohol-based sanitizer
😷 Avoid close contact with symptomatic individuals
🛌 Isolate sick household members
🧴 Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces
🏥 Seek medical attention if symptoms appear
🧍 Use face masks in public or crowded spaces
🌍 The Bigger Problem Behind Mpox & Lockdowns in the Philippines
The monkeypox (Mpox) virus is a real concern, but it’s not the only issue we’re facing. The bigger problem is our weak healthcare system and the government's habit of applying “band-aid” solutions. The Philippines remains deep in debt, yet our leaders keep responding to crises with short-term fixes like lockdowns—without fixing the root causes.
Lockdowns may slow the virus, but they don’t solve the long-term issues. In truth, it’s safer to assume the virus will continue spreading because we are not fully prepared—no health care for all, no real safety nets for the poor, and no sustainable public health reform.

🇵🇭 What We’re Seeing Now: DOH is recommending isolation, hygiene, and contact tracing

🛑 Yes, a Lockdown Might Happen Again
And like before, only certain people will be allowed to move freely. But the truth is, only a few are privileged enough to keep working. Most Filipinos will suffer job losses, hunger, and mental health issues—all while those with passes can move around.

✅ Who Will Be Allowed to Move (APOR List)
Here’s a full list of people who were allowed to go out during past lockdowns (and likely will again):
Health & Medical
Doctors, nurses, hospital staff, barangay health workers
Emergency responders and ambulance teams
Security
Police, military, barangay tanods, private guards
Essential Services
Grocery and market workers
Delivery riders and couriers (Grab, Lalamove, etc.)
Pharmacy, water, fuel, and electricity staff
Government & Utilities
LGU workers with ID
Social workers, DSWD
Public transport and infrastructure workers
Financial
Bank employees, remittance centers
Media
Reporters, radio/TV crew (with IATF ID)
Education & Legal
Teachers (limited work)
Lawyers and notaries (for urgent services)
Travel & Wellness
OFWs, airport staff
Mental health professionals, wellness workers (if permitted)
⚖️ What This Really Means
If the lockdown returns, those in law enforcement, government, wellness, and media will still move—but the rest of the country will suffer again.
And while a virus might be temporary, the poverty, hunger, and inequality it exposes are not.
Until we demand real, long-term change in public health, education, and social support, the cycle will repeat:
Lockdown. Suffer. Survive. Repeat.
📢 “Ang impormasyon ay para sa kaligtasan, hindi para manakot.”

📲 Official DOH updates: www.doh.gov.ph


✅ Key Message from the Department of Health (DOH)
"Stay alert, not afraid. Follow official advisories, report symptoms early, and practice hygiene and distancing."

📢 “Ang impormasyon ay para sa kaligtasan, hindi para manakot.”

📲 Official DOH Updates: www.doh.gov.ph
🟦
REFERENCE: (NOT A FAKE NEWS)🧐
PLEASE READ THE LINK FROM WHO FOR PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.

https://www.who.int/news.../questions-and-answers/item/mpox
Institut Pasteur. (2024, October). Mpox (formerly monkeypox). Retrieved May 29, 2025, from https://www.pasteur.fr/.../diseas.../mpox-formerly-monkeypox
ABS-CBN News. (2025, May 29). Davao del Sur, Compostela in Davao de Oro require face masks amid mpox cases. Retrieved from https://www.abs-cbn.com/.../davao-del-sur-compostela-in...
GMA Network. (2025, April 18). Davao detects 2 cases of mpox Clade II. Retrieved from https://www.gmanetwork.com/.../davao-city-confirms.../story/
GMA Regional TV. (2025, May 29). Health authorities stress prevention as LGUs detect Mpox. Retrieved from https://www.gmanetwork.com/.../health-authorities.../story/
GMA Network
Cebu Daily News. (2025, May 29). Talisay confirms mpox case; Mandaue probes suspected infections. Retrieved from https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/.../talisay-city...
Philippine Information Agency. (2025, May 28). First confirmed Mpox case in Zamboanga Sibugay recovers. Retrieved from https://pia.gov.ph/first-confirmed-mpox-case-in.../
Philippine Information Agency
Wikipedia contributors. (2025, May 29). Mpox in the Philippines. In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mpox_in_the_Philippines

28/05/2025

Ulat mula sa Brgy. Amoranto, Quezon City

Tayo po ay nagsumite ng ulat ukol sa kasalukuyang kalagayan sa kalsada ng Barangay Amoranto, Quezon City. Quezon City Government

Napansin po natin ang dami ng mga informal settlers sa lugar, pati na rin ang mapanganib na asal ng ilan sa mga nanglilimos — ang iba sa kanila ay may hawak pang pamalo habang humihingi ng limos.

Ating inilapit ito sa pamahalaang lokal ng Quezon city at sa pambansang antas (DSWD,MALACANANG 888 complaint center) upang mabigyan ng agarang pansin at kaukulang aksyon

Nawa’y mapansin ito ng mga kinauukulan. Sama-sama tayong magbantay at kumilos para sa ikabubuti ng ating mga komunidad.

God Bless to all, mga Kapwa ko Ka-Advocate. 🙏

̃angpalace

23/05/2025

Pangulong BBM,

Naway Umabot sa Inyo, at pakinggan ang panawagan ni Mayor Benjie Magalong , isang tunay na lingkod-bayan , at ng sambayanang Pilipino na sumusuporta sa mga sumusunod na reporma:

1. Tuldukan ang pork barrel ng Kongreso sa mga ahensya ng ehekutibo tulad ng DPWH, DSWD, DOLE, DOH, at iba pa — tiyakin ang ganap na transparency at pananagutan sa paglalaan ng pondo.

2. Protektahan ang mga appointment sa ahensya lalo na sa mga frontline departments gaya ng DPWH, laban sa pakikialam ng mga kongresista — upang matiyak na batay sa kakayahan ang mga itinalaga.

3. Wakasan ang “% cut” o komisyon ng mga tiwaling pulitiko sa mga proyekto ng gobyerno — tapusin ang sistemang sumisira sa tiwala ng taumbayan.

4. Ipatupad ang buong transparency sa lahat ng bidding process — upang maiwasan ang lutong-bid na proyekto na pabor sa mga pulitiko o kamag-anak nilang kontratista at supplier.

5. Panagutin ang mga tiwaling opisyal ng gobyerno — sa pamamagitan ng mabilis, patas, at walang kinikilingang paglilitis.

6. Tanggalin ang kontrol ng Kongreso sa mga programang tulad ng AKAP, AICS, MAIP, TUPAD, CHED, at TESDA scholarships, tiyakin na direktang nakikinabang ang mamamayan nang may buong transparency at walang kulay ng politika.

23/05/2025

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division has officially dismissed the disqualification petition filed against the Bagong Henerasyon Party-list.

23/05/2025

𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩: A Unanimous Vote from the Ranks

One of the most striking outcomes of the 2025 elections emerged from the Local Absentee Voting (LAV) — where Filipinos, primarily from uniformed services, voted early (April 28–30) due to election day duties.

Total LAV Votes: 57,689
• Armed Forces of the Philippines: 29,030
• Philippine National Police: 23,448
• Government Employees: 4,206
• Media: 1,005

So, how did our men and women in uniform vote?

In what can only be seen as a silent protest—or perhaps outright defiance—not a single administration-endorsed candidate made it to the Top 12.

Even familiar opposition figures like Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan were shut out.

Instead, the vote went decisively to PDP-Laban candidates and select independents:

Top 8 Picks:
1. B**g Go
2. Bato dela Rosa
3. Rodante Marcoleta
4. Jimmy Bondoc
5. Raul Lambino
6. Atty. Vic Rodriguez
7. Jayvee Hinlo
8. Philip Salvador

Retired military men also gained strong support:
• Ariel Querubin ( #9)
• Gr**go Honasan ( #11)
• Col. Bosita ( #12)

Oddly enough, Ping Lacson, former PNP Chief, only reached #15—the highest rank among Alyansa candidates.

Even more surprising: Apollo Quiboloy landed at #10, outranking several high-profile, well-funded administration bets:
• Erwin Tulfo ( #19)
• Pia Cayetano ( #20)
• Abby Binay ( #26)
• Benhur Abalos ( #29)
• B**g Revilla ( #31)

This vote is loud and clear.

While active military and police personnel cannot publicly express political sentiments, their ballots spoke volumes.

Yes, Quiboloy outranked all of the President’s endorsed bets.

Now that is a message that demands to be read between the lines.

20/05/2025

Kaya ba talagang magkaroon ng P20 na bigas habang buhay?

Kayang-kaya, kung uunahin lang ang mamamayan!May sapat tayong pondo, halos ₱6 Trilyon kada taon ang nailalaan sa Maraming bagay kagaya ng imprastraktura.

Kung ito ay magagamit ng tama at with proper management at syempre kung hindi mapupunta sa korapsyon, posible ang murang bigas, at higit pa.

Pero higit sa lahat, ang tunay na layunin ay ito:
siguraduhin nating busog ang bawat Pilipino.Ang isang bansang busog ay isang bansang masagana. Kapag hindi na gutom ang tao, maraming magagandang bagay ang kasunod:

1. Bumaba ang krimen, dahil wala nang kailangang magnakaw para mabuhay.

2. Mas matatalino at malulusog na bata — dahil ang nutrisyon ay pundasyon ng talino.

3. Makakapag-aral nang maayos ang kabataan — dahil walang laman ang tiyan ay walang laman ang isipan.

4. Mas makakapagtrabaho ang mga magulang, dahil hindi na nila iintindihin kung saan kukuha ng pagkain.At higit sa lahat, busog na tiyan, panatag na isipan, at may pag-asa ang puso.

Hindi imposible ang pagbabago, kung kikilos ang bawat isa, at kung maglalagay tayo ng tapat, marunong, at makataong pamumuno.

May pag-asa pa ang Pilipinas. Huwag tayong bibitiw.

Juan Advocate