Workers dare Arroyo, solons to legislate P125 wage hike instead of costly advertising, campaigning

Instead of bombarding Filipinos with advertisements claiming improved livelihood under her term, Gloria Arroyo should better enact our long-overdue call of a legislated, nationwide P125 wage increase.

This was the challenge of Anakpawis Partylist and Kilusang Mayo Uno to the Arroyo regime amid recent outpouring of paid ads and publicity on her supposed accomplishments, and the continued soaring of prices of basic goods.

“Arroyo really is desperate than ever to maskher very tarnished image, but no amount of advertised lies can do that. If there’s any ounce of truth to her claims of improving the lives and welfare of Filipinos, then whyis it that we workers still badly need a P125 legislated and nationwide wage hike?” KMU Vice President for Women Nenita Gonzaga said.

“The clamor for a nationwide, legislated substantial wage increase becomes increasingly relevant as soaring prices continue to mark Arroyo’s term up to its last days.

“For two long years now, since a meager P20 increase in Metro Manila was granted in June 2008, we have not received any increase from Arroyo. Prices of goods, meanwhile, have increased every now and then. In 2001, one kilo of regular-milled rice was at P18, now, it’s at P30-40. In 2001, the average pump price of diesel per liter was at P12, now it’s at P34. In 2001, the price of an 11-kilo tank of LPG was at P192, now, it’s at P630,” Gonzaga cited.

Anakpawis and KMU staged a picket today at the residence of House Committee on Labor Chair Magtanggol Gunigundo to urge him to call for a special session for the approval of the P125 wage hike bill.

“Our solons can do their part by passing the P125 wage hike bill before their present term ends. This better be one of their last legacies to their constituents, instead of just embarking on costly campaigning and advertising this election period,” Anakpawis Representative Joel Maglunsod said.

Together with Makabayan senatoriables Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza, the late Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran filed House Bill 1722 in Congress, which calls for a P125 legislated nation-wide wage increase.