Manila, Sept. 4 -- Senator Raffy Tulfo on Thursday threatened to block the proposed 2026 budget of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) if it fails to improve its performance and remove erring field inspectors.

"I promise you, Sec. (Bienvenido) Laguesma, idi-defer ko ang budget niyo kapag walang nasibak na pabayang field inspector (I will move for the deferment of your budget if no erring field inspector is fired)," Tulfo said during the day's Senate Committee on Labor hearing.

According to Tulfo, the committee's vice chair, many manufacturing companies in Metro Manila that he said he personally inspected have been underpaying their workers, with some employees receiving as little as PHP280 per day.

"Taas nga tayo ng sahod, pe...