MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Martin Romualdez announced on Wednesday that the House of Representatives would expedite discussions on a bill to raise the daily minimum wage, ensuring that the increase is balanced between the needs of workers and the concerns of employers.
Romualdez made this statement following a meeting on Tuesday evening with labor leaders at the House, where he was joined by Deputy Speaker Democrito Raymond Mendoza and Assistant Majority Leader Jude Acidre, to gather feedback on the proposal for a wage hike.
The congressman from Leyte shared that the House was considering a P200 increase to the legislated daily minimum wage, aiming to offer financial relief to workers while protecting the interests of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“This is a critical step toward achieving inclusive growth and addressing the immediate challenges faced by Filipino families,” Romualdez remarked.
He emphasized the urgency of implementing an appropriate wage adjustment due to the ongoing rise in the prices of essential goods and services.
Inflation rose to 2.9 percent in December, up from 2.5 percent in November, driven by higher housing and energy costs, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s report released earlier this month.
Romualdez pointed out that the last legislated wage increase took place more than three decades ago under the Wage Rationalization Act of 1989.
“If we were able to do this in the past, there is no reason why we cannot do it now, especially with careful planning and collaboration with all sectors,” he said.
Romualdez also revealed that, based on ongoing consultations with the public, the consensus at the House was that a P200 increase in the daily minimum wage is a reasonable target.
He also stressed the positive economic impact of a wage increase, such as boosting household spending, stimulating local economies, and promoting long-term economic growth.
Romualdez explained that since consumer spending plays a significant role in the country’s GDP, “a wage hike can act as an economic catalyst.”
“A well-designed wage hike is not just an immediate solution to help workers cope with inflation, it is an investment in our collective future,” he added.
Members of the Makabayan bloc expressed support for Romualdez’s statement, calling it “a step in the right direction,” though they argued that a P200 increase would not be sufficient. They continue to advocate for their proposed P750 across-the-board wage hike for private-sector workers to ensure a family living wage.
“We welcome any step towards increasing workers’ wages, as this positive development stems from our workers’ persistent demands for a legislated wage increase,” said Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas.
