Sto. Tomas turns over DOLE leadership to CA justice

Incoming Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) chairperson Patricia Sto. Tomas turned over Monday the leadership of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to Court of Appeals Associate Justice Arturo Brion in simple ceremonies at the agency's office in Manila. Sto. Tomas assumes the helm of the DBP effective Monday (July 3). She was labor secretary for five years under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Brion, on the other hand, previously served as undersecretary in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and helped prepare the electoral system for overseas Filipinos in 2004 before he was named associate justice of the appellate court. After the regular Monday-morning flag-raising ceremonies, Sto. Tomas addressed the employees and formally introduced Brion as her successor. She wished Brion well in his new job and urged him to continue programs that she started during her incumbency. "Under my watch, many Filipinos got jobs and we managed to maintain industrial peace. I hope Secretary Brion will maintain, if not surpass, this track record," she said. She likewise reminded Brion to always try to balance the interests of laborers, who constantly try to make ends meet, and employers, who try to keep their businesses afloat, when making major decisions, particularly on the issue of salary increases. Brion took over the DOLE leadership amid labor groups' call for higher wages, including a legislated wage hike of P125 a day. Employers have been parrying demands for a wage hike, saying they cannot afford the extra cost. The moderate Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) earlier sought a P75-daily wage hike, but the regional wage board approved only a P25 salary increase. While employers were amenable to the P25-wage hike, the TUCP said it will appeal the decision. Meanwhile, the left-leaning Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), which is seeking a legislated P125-salary hike, said it will boycott further consultations because allegedly "the wage boards have been proven to be inutile."-GMANews.TV