MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Martin Romualdez vowed on Wednesday that the House of Representatives would expedite discussions on a bill that seeks to raise the daily minimum wage, ensuring the adjustment supports both the needs of workers and the interests of employers.
Romualdez’s statement followed a meeting on Tuesday evening with labor leaders at the House of Representatives, where he was joined by Deputy Speaker Democrito Raymond Mendoza and Assistant Majority Leader Jude Acidre to gather input on the push for a legislated wage increase.
The Leyte congressman shared that the House is looking at a P200 increase in the legislated daily minimum wage, with the goal of offering financial relief to workers while also protecting the viability 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 stated.
He highlighted the urgency of adjusting wages due to the rising costs of essential goods and services.
In December, inflation rose to 2.9 percent, up from 2.5 percent in November, largely due to increases in housing and energy prices, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s figures released earlier this month.
Romualdez pointed out that the last legislated wage increase was implemented over 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,” Romualdez emphasized.
Romualdez also revealed that, following ongoing public consultations, the consensus in the House was that a P200 daily wage increase could be a feasible solution.
Additionally, he emphasized the broader economic benefits of a wage hike, including stimulating household spending, boosting local economies, and fostering long-term economic growth.
Romualdez noted that in the Philippines, where consumer spending is a major contributor to 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.
The Makabayan bloc lawmakers expressed their support for Romualdez’s statement, calling it “a step in the right direction,” but they continued to push for their proposed P750 across-the-board salary increase in the private sector to provide workers with 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.
