Happy Monday, June 16. Start your week smarter with PesoWeekly. We cover the scrapped ₱200 wage hike (who jinxed it?), key political updates, and the Iran-Israel missile tension. But it's not all bad news — there’s a breakthrough in filtering microplastics, a wild fact about cats, and a deep dive on franchising (by request!). Plus, a few handy tools to level up your work week.

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The proposed P200 daily wage hike in the Philippines failed to pass after the 19th Congress adjourned last week without reconciling two competing versions of the bill. The Senate had earlier approved a P100 hike in February 2024, while the House pushed for a more ambitious P200 hike just this June. But with no bicameral agreement reached, the bill died quietly—and noisily—with both chambers blaming each other for the failure.

The House accused the Senate of refusing to meet and “killing” the bill, while Senate President Francis Escudero claimed the House acted too late and offered no economic justification for the P200 figure. Translation: classic Congress deadlock.

Economic alarms ringing

While labor groups decried the loss as a betrayal, economic managers and business groups saw it as dodging a financial bullet. The Bangko Sentral warned that a P200 hike could push inflation up by 2 percentage points, while a P100 increase might raise it by 0.7 points.

Some business leaders also argued the increase would force employers—especially MSMEs—to cut jobs or raise prices.

They framed the wage hike as bad for the economy—and, ironically, bad for workers if it triggered layoffs.

But… labor groups aren’t backing down. Even though the President didn’t certify the bill as urgent, they plan to refile a new version once the 20th Congress opens in July. Whether lawmakers will finally prioritize a living wage—or continue trading barbs—remains to be seen.

Meanwhile… Filipino workers are left waiting. Again.

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PBBM is offering to mediate the escalating disagreements between the two legislative chambers. However, the President has made it clear that while he seeks to bridge the gap between the Senate and House, his intervention will not extend to the impeachment case against his own Vice President, Sara Duterte. This stance highlights the delicate balance he seeks to maintain between legislative harmony and the independence of the impeachment process.

Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte and her legal team are actively preparing their response to the summons issued by the Senate. The Senate, now effectively transformed into an impeachment court, has formally called upon Duterte to address the articles of impeachment filed against her by the House of Representatives. This development marks a critical phase in the proceedings, as Duterte's legal team strategizes their defense against the allegations. The coming days are expected to see the formal submission of her reply, setting the stage for the next steps in what promises to be a closely watched legal and political battle. The interplay between presidential mediation, legislative tensions, and the Vice President's defense will largely shape the immediate political landscape in the Philippines.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte wants out—at least temporarily. The 80-year-old has petitioned the ICC for interim release to another (undisclosed) country, citing age and “humanitarian reasons.” His lawyer says Duterte is no flight risk, lacks influence, and promises not to reoffend. The court noted that a third country is ready to receive him.

But victims of his bloody drug war are pushing back. They’ve opposed his release from day one. Prosecutors haven’t ruled it out, but say any release would require conditions. A decision is still pending.

As School Year 2025–2026 kicks off, teacher groups are sounding the alarm. The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) slammed the Marcos administration for what they called “criminal neglect” of public education. They’re demanding an immediate doubling of the education budget to 6% of GDP, citing severe shortages: 165,000 classrooms, 150,000 teachers, 96,000 support staff, and over 20 million missing learning materials.

They warn that reforms—like the new SHS curriculum—are being rolled out without support. Meanwhile, basic benefits under the Magna Carta remain unmet.

With the San Juanico Bridge under rehab and limiting trucks to 3 tons, heavy cargo has been stuck in traffic hell—until now. A new Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) vessel, MV 1018, began operations on June 12, offering a direct shipping route between Mindanao (Surigao) and Luzon (Sorsogon), bypassing the clogged Samar–Leyte corridor.

The vessel can carry 37 10-wheeler trucks and cuts across the sea in 21 hours. Rates start at ₱18,000 for small trucks, reaching ₱115,000 for heavy equipment haulers. Another vessel is expected soon, while the San Juanico Bridge remains under state of calamity repairs.

In a rare and risky escalation, Israel targeted several of Iran’s most critical oil and gas sites over the weekend, shaking energy markets and raising fears of a wider regional war. Among the targets: the South Pars gas field, the largest in the world, and multiple facilities tied to Tehran’s fuel supply.

What was hit (and what’s confirmed):

Why this matters:

Oil prices spiked 9% Friday and could surge again Monday. Analysts warn of global fuel volatility if the Strait is touched.

Israel’s Mossad pulled off a covert operation straight out of a spy thriller—smuggling explosive drone parts into Iran via suitcases, trucks, and cargo. When Israeli F-35s attacked Tehran, small Mossad-led teams were already on the ground, disabling air defenses and missile launchers before they could retaliate. The goal: air dominance and minimal blowback. Iran still fired 200 missiles, but Israel expected worse. Moral of the story? Even in modern warfare, the deadliest payload might be packed in a delivery box.

Two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota were attacked in their homes early Saturday in what Governor Tim Walz called a “politically motivated assassination.” State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed. State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were seriously injured but survived after surgery.

The suspect, 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter—described as a former security contractor—remains at large. Police say he impersonated an officer, left behind a manifesto, and had a target list that included multiple politicians and abortion providers. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward. A manhunt is underway as political violence takes center stage—again.

Franchising has long been the Filipino dream shortcut to business ownership. Plug into a brand, follow the playbook, and profit—right? But in 2025, the formula’s looking a bit shakier. High costs, fierce competition, and shifting consumer habits are forcing would-be franchisees to think twice.

Here’s what’s still working:

Zoom out: What’s changed?
PFA expects just 8–10% growth in 2025—slower than past years. Rising costs, red tape, and a saturated food cart scene are pushing down margins. Some franchisees are learning the hard way: a famous logo doesn’t guarantee foot traffic.

But… is it still worth it?
Franchising isn’t dead—but it’s no longer “easy money.” Expect high capital, stiff competition, and location battles. LGU bureaucracy doesn’t help, and supply chain delays can eat into profits. Also, the rise of e-commerce and delivery apps means your kiosk isn't the only game in town.

Quick take:
Franchising used to feel like a business starter kit. In 2025, it’s more like playing level 10 on day one. Still worth it? Maybe. But bring strategy, not just savings.

High schoolers Justin Huang and Victoria Ou built a game-changing device that uses ultrasound to filter microplastics from water—no chemicals, no clogged filters. Their prototype removed up to 96% of plastics like polyethylene and polystyrene in lab tests, earning them the $50,000 Gordon E. Moore Award at the 2024 Regeneron ISEF.The science: ultrasonic waves push plastic particles away from water flow using acoustic radiation force.

It’s compact, energy-efficient, and scalable—from laundry machines to fish tanks. No commercial launch yet, but the duo is refining the tech for bigger real-world use.

Domestic cats might just be evolution’s sleekest success story. With night vision that shames night-vision goggles, retractable claws that stay razor-sharp, and reflexes fast enough to catch prey mid-pounce, they’re built for the hunt. Their basic design hasn’t changed in over 10 million years—because it didn’t need to. From ancient wildcats to modern house cats, the feline form has remained remarkably stable, spreading across the globe with ease. Whether prowling deserts, alleyways, or your couch, cats thrive almost anywhere. Translation: they’re not just cute—they’re finely tuned, low-maintenance predators with a global fanbase and zero interest in people-pleasing.

Scientists at the University of Utah pulled off a major flex in addiction research: they got fruit flies to voluntarily get hooked on cocaine. Normally, flies hate the taste—but by disabling their bitter-sensing nerves, researchers let them experience the drug’s reward effect directly. The result? Flies that seek out cocaine, binge it, and even show withdrawal. This creates a cheap, fast, and genetically versatile model for studying addiction. With 75% of human disease genes mirrored in flies, this could turbocharge drug testing and gene research for treatment. Translation: tiny bugs, giant leap for rehab science.

Maharlika Investment Corp. is considering funding the Agila satellite—potentially the country’s first sovereign internet satellite—to boost digital access across remote barangays. The DICT is negotiating with Astranis (a Starlink rival) to buy Agila’s bandwidth at a discount, and wants MIC to help foot the bill. MIC chief Rafael Consing Jr. says the project fits Maharlika’s mission to back long-term infrastructure bets. If sealed, it could beam internet to 10M Pinoys in underserved areas.

Trump’s tariff tantrums may rattle global markets, but for Philippine miners, it’s looking like a shiny opportunity. With gold prices flirting near $3,500/oz—up 30% this year—local firms like Apex, Philex, and OceanaGold are basking in investor demand for safe-haven assets. Analysts say the gold rally is fueled by global uncertainty, rate cut chatter, and inflation fears. Bonus: a strong dollar could mean more pesos per ounce.

Tesla started by wiring laptop batteries into sexy EVs. Now Elon Musk wants to rewire the company itself—into a robotics firm. With robotaxis set for a June 22 debut (pending delays, as always), Musk is betting Tesla’s future on AI-powered, driverless cars. Unlike its EV past, this isn’t just tech integration—it’s full-on reinvention. But with Waymo still crawling and GM exiting robotaxis, even Musk admits: “We’re being super paranoid about safety.”

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