Senate probe of Honda plant closure mulled

Sen. Joel Villanueva on Tuesday said he would conduct a Senate inquiry into the impending closure of a Japanese car manufacturing plant in Santa Rosa City, Laguna province, as he urged the government to immediately assist over 600 workers who will be laid off. Villanueva, Senate labor committee chair, said the sudden shutdown of Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) was a “cause of concern” as it happened after Nokia Technology Center Philippines announced its closure this year. He said another multinational company, US-based Wells Fargo & Co., was also downsizing its local operations, leaving over 700 of its personnel jobless. “We have yet to pinpoint the root cause of [the closure of HCPI] because there may be more concerns than meets the eye,” Villanueva said in a text message to the Inquirer.—Marlon Ramos