DOF backs President’s decision on security of tenure bill

The head of the economic team is backing up President Duterte’s veto of the bill aimed at ending contractualization, while also expressing confidence that Congress would not overturn the President’s decision.

“This security of tenure bill has to protect our competitiveness. Whatever they do, they have to remember also that the Supreme Court had said that promoting the interest of labor does not mean destroying capital or management,” Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III told reporters on the sidelines of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) reception for the banking community Friday night.

“What [Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M.] Pernia said was right—there should be a balance,” Dominguez added.

Last week, National Economic and Development Authority chief Pernia said the legislation should be “fair.” It should benefit both the employers and the workers, he said.

Asked if the President’s veto was a good thing, Dominguez replied: “I think so. I mean the veto doesn’t mean don’t do it—the veto means we invite you to think about it again.”

Dominguez said legislators were welcome to refile the bill—with improvements—in the 18th Congress.

“You just improve the competitiveness of the Philippines, and make sure that it is even-handed. Because you have three elements—labor, capital, and management. Everybody’s role has to be enhanced simultaneously, not one or the other,” Dominguez said.

Asked if Congress can still overturn the President’s veto of the security of tenure bill, Dominguez acknowledged that a two-thirds vote of legislators can do so. But “[If] they want to challenge [Mr. Duterte’s] 85-percent approval rating, that’s up to them,” he said. —BEN O. DE VERA