A good week for the little peoplehome/Business/Business Columns/A good week for the little peopleIT is unfortunate that the antics of America’s Tangerine Tyrant have turned the term “populism” into a slur, because when it is being practiced with sincere intent, its potential to solve some deep-rooted economic problems quickly is actually quite impressive. Three measures that briefly bubbled to the top of the news cycle stew this week in the Philippines hold some promise and are worth a second look. The first was the long overdue update of the Social Security System (SSS) charter, which was signed into law by President Duterte. The second measure, not yet implemented but soon to pass the final step in the legislative process, is the so-called “Murang Kuryente” (cheap electricity) Act, the brainchild of Sen. Ralph Recto. The basis for setting minimum wages would also be altered from regional cost of living estimates to industry-specific benchmarks, although within whatever categories are finally devised some level of generalization is inevitable.

Source: Manila Times February 16, 2019 17:28 UTC