The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to prioritize the proposed P200 daily wage increase as an urgent legislative measure. With the 19th Congress set to adjourn in June, the TUCP emphasizes the need for swift action to ensure this long-awaited relief for Filipino workers becomes law.
Already passed on second reading by the House of Representatives, the bill awaits its third and final reading before moving to the Senate. According to TUCP Regional Vice President Atty. Rina Eusebio-Dalam, this process is primarily ceremonial, and the bill’s advancement is now within reach.
“The third reading is just ceremonial, just read the law, after that, we will submit it (bill) to the Senate,” said lawyer Rina Eusebio-Dalam, regional vice president of TUCP, in a press conference at the TUCP headquarters in Davao City.
The TUCP is pushing for the immediate passage of the P200 wage hike to address the poverty situation of workers and their families obscured by the escalating political noise.
“Emotions fanned by social media are running high, but sadly, it has not been about the dire situation of Filipino workers and their families, their desperation for a take-home pay that affords them three nutritious meals on the table that addresses the increasing stunting of our children, and which can ensure that our future workforce will be competitive in the ASEAN. Has the political climate made our society too jaded to poverty and the daily sufferings of our people that all political players have diverted their attention to political wranglings?” TUCP asked in a statement.
Melba Tampakan, director for the Membership Recruitment and Services Department (MRSD) of Associated Labor Unions (ALU) Southern Mindanao, expressed optimism that despite the political conflict between the Marcos administration and the Dutertes, the P200 wage hike remains a priority bill by the Congress.
“Katong gipasa ang P200 wage increase, gaingon didto ang Congress na i-priority bill ni nila. Pero kani man gud na bill before pa ni katong election. Now naabot naman ta ug second reading, natabunan ni siya sa isyus sa away politika. Pero ang ginaingon sa Congress priority bill na,” Tampakan said.
Tampakan reminded PBBM’s campaign promise in 2022 to focus on improving the situations of the workers.
“Hangtod karon wala gihapon miskan isa sa iyahang promise, wala gihapon naka meeting ang labor sector sa iyaha. Why positive mi kay walay bill ang nakaabot nga ingon ani kapaspas na second reading dayon. Kanang naghulat na lang ta sa third reading after ana Bicam then naa na kay PBBM kung iyahang i-veto o iyahang ipasa. Pero ang amoang hangyo unta kay hapit nami sa finish line, unta mapasa and we still believed that still this is a priority bill and unta dili kalimtan gihapon katong gi-promise nila before election,” she said.
TUCP also cited the February 2025 Pulse Asia survey, which revealed a staggering negative 26 net approval rating for the performance of the government in increasing workers’ wages.
“No amount of political bickering, grandstanding, and finger-pointing will fill empty stomachs, send children to school, or give workers the dignity of a decent life. Workers demand that the P200 legislated wage hike be passed before the 19th Congress adjourns in June and sent to the President’s desk for his signature into law. The Filipino working class must be another casualty in this chaos,” TUCP said.
