MANILA — Senator Raffy Tulfo has warned the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) that he would move to block its 2026 budget if it fails to improve performance and remove erring field inspectors who neglect their duties.

Tulfo, Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Labor, issued the warning during the panel’s Sept. 4 hearing, citing his own inspection of manufacturing companies in CAMANAVA and Metro Manila where workers were reportedly underpaid, with some receiving as little as ₱280 per day.

“DOLE, WAKE UP! Taas nga tayo ng sahod, pero kulang naman sa implementation. Para tayong naglolokohan dito,” Tulfo said. “Maging seryoso kayo sa trabaho ninyo! Tinitignan ko yung listahan ng mga kumpanya na dapat inspeksyunin, hindi naiinspect ng field inspectors ninyo. ‘Yung iba namang naiinspect, dumideretso lang sa opisina ng HR officer para sa close-door meeting at hindi man lang kinakausap ang mga worker.”

Tulfo asked Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma to submit a list of DOLE CAMANAVA and Metro Manila field inspectors, along with their inspection reports, to assess whether they are fulfilling their responsibilities.

He stressed that inspectors found negligent should be dismissed immediately.

“I promise you, Sec. Laguesma, idedefer ko ang budget niyo kapag walang nasibak na pabayang field inspector,” Tulfo said. “Either hindi nila ginagawa ang trabaho nila, o korap sila. Kaya dapat may masibak diyan. Kung hindi kayo magsisipag-ayos diyan sa DOLE, ipapa-defer ko ang budget ninyo.”

In response, Laguesma said he took serious note of Tulfo’s concerns and committed to act on them.