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Advocates Philippines
Laguesma Steps Down; Tolentino Takes Over DOLE
Photo credit: PCO
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed former senator Francis Tolentino as Acting Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), replacing outgoing Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma.
The announcement came as Laguesma confirmed that he is stepping down from his post “due to health considerations” that require his full attention at the moment.
Tolentino’s appointment marks his return to government service after serving in the Senate, where he became known for advocating measures on disaster resilience, local governance, and labor-related concerns.
Malacañang has yet to release additional details regarding the leadership transition, but Tolentino is expected to immediately oversee the department’s ongoing programs focused on employment generation, workers’ welfare, and labor policy reforms.
Laguesma, meanwhile, served as labor chief under the Marcos administration and led several initiatives involving wage discussions, protection for overseas Filipino workers, and post-pandemic employment recovery efforts.
The sudden leadership change comes at a crucial time for the labor sector as the country continues to face concerns involving inflation, contractualization, and job generation.
Observers are now closely watching how Tolentino will handle the agency’s priorities and challenges as the new acting labor chief.
The announcement came as Laguesma confirmed that he is stepping down from his post “due to health considerations” that require his full attention at the moment.
Tolentino’s appointment marks his return to government service after serving in the Senate, where he became known for advocating measures on disaster resilience, local governance, and labor-related concerns.
Malacañang has yet to release additional details regarding the leadership transition, but Tolentino is expected to immediately oversee the department’s ongoing programs focused on employment generation, workers’ welfare, and labor policy reforms.
Laguesma, meanwhile, served as labor chief under the Marcos administration and led several initiatives involving wage discussions, protection for overseas Filipino workers, and post-pandemic employment recovery efforts.
The sudden leadership change comes at a crucial time for the labor sector as the country continues to face concerns involving inflation, contractualization, and job generation.
Observers are now closely watching how Tolentino will handle the agency’s priorities and challenges as the new acting labor chief.
May 25, 2026
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