Sen. Nancy Binay during the Senate deliberations. Senate PRIB file photo / Bibo Nueva España
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Nancy Binay is open to discuss a possible wage increase for workers to mitigate the impact of rising costs of basic commodities.
The country’s inflation rate rose to 8.7 percent in January mainly due to faster increases in the prices of food, housing rentals, electricity and water.
When asked in an interview on Friday if there is a basis on calls to raise the salary of workers, Binay said that this has to be studied first.
“Kung yun ang talagang magiging solution e we just have to bite the bullet at talagang taasan yung sweldo,” she said.
(If that is really the solution then we just have to bite the bullet and let’s raise the salary.)
Binay said she is also “open” to a legislated wage hike when told that some groups are pushing for it.
“Open ako na pag usapan kasi kung talagang yun naman yung magiging solution… kung yun ang makakabuti e,” she said.
(I’m open to discussing it if that is really the solution…)
While acknowledging the efforts of the country’s economic managers to address inflation, the senator noted the problem on “continuity” whenever there is a new administration.
Binay nevertheless pointed to mitigation measures that are now in place like the funding assistance for the riding public that Congress has allotted in the national budget to ease the effects of high inflation rate.