Manila 2nd district Rep. Rolando Valeriano (left), Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua (Facebook)

Congressmen from Manila have praised the National Capital Region (NCR) Wage Board for issuing a new minimum wage increase for Metro Manila in the amount of P35.

Both Manila 2nd district Rep. Rolando “Rolan” Valeriano, and 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua appreciated the move of the wage board especially with the current difficulties faced by the country’s laborers. 

“Sa aking palagay ay dapat higit sa P35 ang dapat na minimum wage increase. Ito ay dahilan sa ang P35 ay nasa 5.7 percent lamang ng dating minimum wage na P610, samantalang ang inflation sa kabuuan ng taong 2023 ay nasa 6 percent," said Valeriano, chairman of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development.

(For me, the minimum wage increase should be more than P35. This is because the P35 is just 5.7 percent of the existing minimum wage of P610, while inflation for the entirety of 2023 was at 6 percent.) 

"Subalit tayo pa din ay malaking pasalamat sa ating NCR Wage Board, na pinamumunuan ng ating Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) NCR Regional Director Sara Buena Mirasol, dahilan sa ito ay napapanahon. Ramdam ng bawat manggagawa sa Metro Manila ang kakapusan dahilan nga sa paghina ng purchasing power ng piso,” Valeriano said.

(Still we give much thanks to the NCR Wage Board, which is led by our Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) NCR Regional Director Sara Buena Mirasol, for this timely adjustment. Every worker in Metro Manila is burdened by the weakening purchasing power of the peso.) 

​The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board or the Wage Board for the NCR acted on the directive of President Marcos, issued last May 1, 2024, during the Labor Day Celebration in Malacanang, to immediately convene and study the possibility of  providing for a new round of minimum wage increase. The NCR Wage Board thereafter conducted three consultations or public hearings with the labor and management sectors.   

Chua, a member of the House Committee on Labor and Employment, acknowledged President Marcos' hand in the positive development. 

“Wala pang isang taon ang lumipas simula noong July 16, 2023 nang taasan ang minimum wage mula P570 at ito ay naging P610. Unusual ito. Kinakailangan ang tinatawag na supervening event kung magbibigay ng panibagong increase ng hindi lalagpas ang isang taon," he said. 

(It has been less than a year since July 16, 2023 when the minimum wage was increased from  P570 to P610. This is unusual. There needs to be a supervening event for another increase to happen in less than a year.) 

"Napakalaking bagay na ang ating Pangulo, kasama si DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, ay nakita na hindi na kailangang maghintay. Nahihirapan na ang ating mga manggagagawa at kanilang mga pamilya," said Chua. 

(It's a big deal that the President, along with DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, saw that there's no more need to wait. Our workers are their families are feeling the tough times.) 

"At, nakakatuwa din ang agarang pagtugon ng ating wage board. Nawa’y ang wage boards ng ibang mga rehiyon ay agaran din umaksyon at sundan ang ating NCR Wage Board," added Chua. 

(I'm happy with the wage board's response. Hopefully the wage boards of the other regions act and follow the lead of the NCR Wage Board.)