The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) agreed on Wednesday, May 1, with President Marcos' order for a timely review of the minimum wage amid the rising costs of goods and services in the country.

"Doon sa usapin ng pag-review muli sa lalong madaling panahon doon sa pagda-dagdag ng sahod, lalo pa't ito yung naging panawagan ng mga labor movement natin, mga labor organizations. Tingin ko, hindi naman ito rin taliwas doon sa initiative naman ng Kongreso, na ngayon ay patuloy na dini-dinig yung P150 na legislated wage increase," NAPC Formal Labor and Migrant Workers Sector Sectoral Representative Edwin Bustillos said in an interview in PTV's "Bagong Pilipinas" segment.
(In the matter of reviewing the wage increase, especially as it has been advocated for by our labor movement and labor organizations, I believe this is not contrary to the ongoing initiative in Congress to discuss the P150 legislated wage increase.)
In March 2023, Senators Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, Loren Legarda, Nancy Binay, and Christopher Lawrence Go filled the Senate Bill No. 2002.
This bill is titled "Across the Board Wage Increase Act of 2023."
"An Act Providing for a 150 Pesos Daily Across-the-Board Increase in the Salary Rates of Employees and Workers in the Private Sector and for other Purposes."
Bustillos believed that if both chambers of the legislative branch of government concur, and this is afterwards endorsed by the executive branch, it would provide a clear explanation to the president regarding the urgency of implementing a wage hike.
"Because, as he (Marcos) mentioned earlier during his speech, the increase in several key prices of goods is also significant. In fact, he is closely monitoring the rise in electricity prices, especially during times of extreme weather," Bustillos said.
Marcos urged the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards to review the minimum wage in celebration of the 122nd Labor Day.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/1/marcos-orders-review-of-minimum-wage