Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. campaign in Mandaluyong | PHOTO: Bongbong Marcos official facebook account
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has vowed to provide workers with an increase in wages under a recovered economy.
Marcos, in a statement shared by his camp on Saturday, said business owners may oppose major wage hikes at this point considering the current state of the economy that has suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Alam natin ang pangangailangan ng sektor ng paggawa na kailangan ding taasan ang sahod, pero dahil nga hindi pa tayo nakakabangon mula sa pandemya ay siguraduhin muna nating pasiglahin ang kalakalan,” he said.
(We know that the labor sector needs an increase in salary, but because we have not recovered from the pandemic, we will first ensure a strong trade.)
“Tiyakin muna natin ang pagbubukas ng mga kumpanya at ang pagbabalik sa trabaho ng ating mga kababayan. Mula sa ganoong konsepto ay titiyakin natin ang kaluwagan at pagbibigay ng maaaring mga benepisyo sa ating mga manggagawa,” Marcos added.
(Let us first ensure that companies will reopen and jobs will be returned to our countrymen. From that concept, we will ensure relief and the provision of benefits for our workers.)
Marcos also noted that economic growth is driven by consumer spending and business investment. He said “it is, therefore, necessary for people to have jobs to be able to spend and pump up the economy.”
“Alam ng management (ng mga kumpanya), ng pamahalaan, at mga manggagawa ang kalagayan ng ekonomiya kaya lahat ay nagtitiis. Kahit nakikita na natin ang unti-unting pagbangon ay kailangan pa ding patatagin muna ang kalakalan at iyan ang ating pagsisikapang gawin,” the former senator said.
(All company managements, the government, and workers know the state of the economy that’s why everyone is enduring. Even if we are seeing the gradual recovery of the economy, we still need to strengthen trade and that is what we will strive to do.)
Marcos also stressed that micro, small and medium enterprises will be the backbone of his economic program, saying the majority of the workforce come from this sector.
He also said that trade and commerce will play an important role for the country to obtain economic viability.