No wage hike; President Marcos distributes Labor Day aid

MANILA, Philippines — There was no wage hike announcement from President Marcos on the eve of Labor Day, but he assured workers of continued assistance, including access to the government’s skills development and socialized housing programs.

Marcos said his administration would continue prioritizing the welfare of Filipino workers, by improving programs to sustain the access to employment and improvement of workers’ employability and productivity.

The President made the remark as he led activities at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City in line with the 121st Labor Day celebration, before flying to the US yesterday for a five-day official visit.

“I therefore enjoin all relevant agencies, especially the DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment), to remain committed to the delivery of good employment programs and the development of the knowledge and skills of our workers,” Marcos said in his speech in Filipino.

At the event, Marcos handed over various assistance, including house and lot packages to five beneficiaries.

The President drew the names of Cipriano Basalio, Ana Lara, May Justine Villarin, Heda Villada and Deborah Romero. Each received the symbolic keys of the socialized house and lot packages from Marcos.

The Chief Executive also led the ceremonial distribution of various DOLE assistance packages to 20,165 beneficiaries in the National Capital Region (NCR), amounting to P162.23 million.

He also witnessed the signing of agreements between government agencies, including a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the production of much-needed skilled workers in the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Housing (or 4PH) Program between DOLE and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.

DOLE also signed an MOU with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of the Interior and Local Government on the implementation of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program.

DOLE likewise forged a memorandum of agreement with DTI and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority on labor and employment concerns in ecozones, especially in the areas of labor education, employment facilitation, dispute prevention and settlement, and compliance with labor laws, social legislation, and occupational safety and health.

The process for the much-awaited salary increase will start to grind after Labor Day, DOLE reported yesterday.

DOLE-NCR director Sarah Mirasol said the Regional Tripartite Wage Board (RTWPB) in the region will act on the pending wage hike petition this May.

“In the next board meeting, we will set a schedule for consultation,” Mirasol said in an interview.

Mirasol, who also chairs the RTWPB in NCR, noted that there are two wage hike petitions pending before the board at this time.

“We have yet to start the process, but it’s part of the agenda in our next board meeting,” she pointed out.

According to Mirasol, the board did not dismiss any of the wage petitions because the one-year prohibitive period against issuing successive wage orders is set to end next month.

“Next month is the anniversary (of the last wage order). It’s all right to file a petition because it’s within the 60-day window period,” she explained in a mix of Filipino and English.

Mirasol said the RTWPB would observe the process and come out with a decision. Granting of emergency cost of living allowance, she said, is not under consideration.

Although the RTWPBs have yet to grant any salary increase, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the government extended non-wage benefits to workers. — Mayen Jaymalin