(LTEditor) P125 wage bill gains supports of bishops,

”To hasten the approval  and implementation of the proposed P125 across the board wage increase nationwide.” This is one of the resolutions of the Ecumenical Bishops Forum in its July statement after a 3-day forum held in Cebu.  The Kilusang Mayo Uno expresses its appreciation for the enlightened stand of the EBF Bishops, priests, pastors and lay leaders. The statement bewails, “there will be no peace when our people live in hunger and misery, when the tillers remain landless, when workers do not receive just wages, when urban and rural communities are dislocated to cater to big business interests.” 

Meanwhile, 14th Congress House Bill 1722 (with four senate counterpart bills) which calls for a legislated P125 across-the-board nationwide wage increase, suffers from an indecisive House of Representatives.  In the 12th Congress the wage hike bill reached only the first round or first reading. In the 13th Congress the bill reached the third and final reading, and in December 22, 2006, it was approved by the House through a majority vote and by rights the bill was passed. 

However, through blatant manipulation and disregard of the House rules, allies of the administration had the measure recalled.   

After eight years, the commitment shown by workers to push for the measure continues.  During the September 3, 2008 public hearing of the HoR Committee on Labor and Employment on the P125 wage hike bill, trade union leaders from different political persuasions were united in their strong support for the urgent passage of P125 wage hike. Main arguments for substantial and urgent wage hike were presented in the hearing debunking the one-sided pro-capitalist powerpoint lecture of the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC).  

We also condemn the proposed 100% increase in the salaries of the President and top government officials, while only allowing for a much lesser increase in low-income public sector workers. We believe it was the height of insensivity on the part of government officials to try to double their salaries while freezing the wages of the majority. We deem that Arroyo deserves a job termination, not a wage hike.