‘WE CAN BARELY EAT’: Labor groups push PHP 200 wage hike in Western Visayas

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Labor groups in Western Visayas renewed their call for a PHP 200 daily wage increase, citing the inadequacy of the current minimum wage to meet rising living costs.

During the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) Region 6 public hearing on Oct. 8, United Labor–Panay Representative Elmer Forro argued that the PHP 513 daily minimum wage no longer meets the constitutional guarantee of a living wage.

“The Constitution guarantees labor a livable wage,” Forro said, referring to Article XIII, Section 3 of the 1987 Constitution, which mandates the state to ensure full protection to labor and the right to a living wage.

“For a family to live decently today, the daily cost of living should be over PHP 1,000. Our minimum wage is PHP 513, but due to inflation, its real value has dropped to PHP 408—resulting in a loss of PHP 105.”

He expressed dismay over criticisms from some micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) opposing the wage hike, noting that workers are being blamed for the slowing economy.

“It is disheartening to hear that MSMEs say they cannot manage the increase, as if it’s the workers’ fault for the economic decline. In truth, we can barely eat—but we are all victims here,” he said.

Forro blamed systemic corruption and government inefficiency as the root causes of the country’s economic struggles, citing alleged anomalies in flood control projects as examples of misused public funds.

Another United Labor member explained how the current minimum wage barely covers daily costs, with transportation, meals, and basic goods consuming nearly the entire PHP 513, leaving little for emergencies or medicine.

A representative from the healthcare sector of Iloilo Mission Hospital backed the wage hike, warning that low salaries are pushing private hospital workers to transfer to BPOs or government hospitals.

“The salary grade in private hospitals is different from that in the public,” the representative said.

“Without fair pay, our healthcare system might collapse. Even with the PHP 200 increase, much of it will go to deductions like SSS, Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth.”

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Region 6 also presented poverty data at the hearing.

According to Statistical Specialist Miguel Gallego, a five-member Filipino family in 2023 needed around PHP 13,873 monthly nationwide and PHP 13,801 in Western Visayas to meet basic food and non-food needs.

He said that 13.7 percent of the regional population—or around 664,000 people—were living below the poverty threshold, while 9.8 percent of families, or roughly 119,000 households, were considered poor.

More than 200 representatives from labor, business, and government sectors attended the public hearing to present their positions on the wage hike.

The RTWPB-6 is scheduled to deliberate on the proposal on Oct. 23, with the new wage rate to take effect 15 days after publication, in line with Republic Act 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act.

RTWPB Chairperson Atty. Sixto Rodriguez Jr. assured the public that both labor and management stakeholders will be heard before any decision is made.

Currently, the minimum wage in Western Visayas is PHP 513 per day for non-agriculture, industrial, and commercial establishments with more than 10 employees.

It is PHP 485 for smaller businesses, PHP 480 for agriculture workers, and PHP 6,000 per month for domestic workers.