Marcos asked: Certify as urgent P200 legislated wage increase

CEBU, Philippines — The Akbayan Partylist has called on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to immediately certify as urgent the proposed P200 legislated across-the-board daily wage hike for all private sector workers.

The Akbayan's appeal came after the House of Representatives - Committee on Labor approved a substitute bill proposing a P200 increase in the minimum wage.

Last week, the House leaders met with labor groups to fast-track wage increase proposals pending before the Congress.

 “Tama na ang study-study na yan. Aksyon na ang kailangan! Dami nang research tungkol sa wage hikes saying that they will improve workers’ purchasing power, raise living conditions and strategically increase productivity,” said Akbayan Partylist Rep. Perci Cendaña, in a statement.

“We demand the President to exercise decisive political will. Hindi na dapat dine-delay ito dahil nakasalalay dito ang ikinabubuhay ng ating mga mamamayan," he added.

Amid Malacañang's concern for the need for further deliberation, Cendaña said that the committee has already tediously studied the bill for months.

“Further study only means further suffering. The House committee has already deliberated this measure for eight months. We don't need to wait for the regional wage boards to conduct another eight months of study before we increase the minimum wage,” Cerdaña said.

Meanwhile, Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. said he is happy that the measure is within arm's reach.

After the Senate's approval of a legislated wage hike last year, the Congress recently approved at the committee level a counterpart bill providing for a P200 legislated wage hike.

“Mukhang malaki ang tsansa! Abot-kamay na itong legislated wage hike! We have been advocating for a decent living wage since 2008. Labis tayong natutuwa dahil yung matagal nang inaasam-asam ng ating mga kababayan, at matagal na rin nating isinusulong ay malapit na nating makamit. Ngayon nagkakaroon na ng linaw ang legislated wage hike na simula pa noong 2008 ay paulit-ulit kong nang ipinapanukala dito sa Senado," Revilla said in a separate statement.

Revilla hopes the bill gets enacted before the 19th Congress closes.

“We still have nine session days left in the 19th Congress. Kaya pa ito,” Revilla added.

Senator Joel Villanueva also raised the same request, calling on the Marcos administration to certify the legislated wage hike bill as urgent. He emphasized the need to improve the standard of living for Filipino workers.

Villanueva, who serves as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resource Development, underscored that while the Philippine economy grew by 5.6 percent in 2024, this growth must be reflected in the well-being of the country's workforce.

“The window for the 19th Congress is slowly closing, which is why we need to speed up discussions and ensure the bill's enactment before we adjourn," Villanueva stated.

Senate Bill 2534, also known as the P100 Minimum Wage Hike Increase bill, which Villanueva co-authored, was approved on third reading in the Senate on Feb. 19, 2024.

“At the end of the day, what is important is that we can match our workers' wages to the living wage," he said.

 Villanueva also filed Senate Bill 2140, which seeks to establish a standard for a living wage to ensure that Filipino workers earn enough to support their families and improve their quality of life. (CEBU NEWS)