Marcos not against wage hike bill, says Castro

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. INQUIRER.net/Ryan Leagogo

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. does not oppose the wage hike bill.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made that clarification on Friday in reaction to Kabataan Party-list’s claim that the President himself squashed the bill, and that if he genuinely wanted to raise wages, a single order from Malacañang would make it happen.

Castro went as far as to remind the public that Marcos is not a dictator.

“Is President Marcos Jr. a dictator? No, he is not. Let us leave that matter to Congress for now. As for the President, he is not against a wage increase because it will benefit the workers,” she said in Filipino.

READ: 19th Congress ends session without ratifying wage hike bill

“But for now, we have an existing process in place, and let us remember that every year, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board reviews this. In every region, in every area, wage increases are being implemented for our fellow Filipinos,” Castro continued.

Kabataan Party-list made the allegations after the 19th Congress adjourned without the Senate and House reconciling their respective versions of the wage hike measure.

“The last day of the 19th Congress’ legislative session ended yesterday without President Marcos Jr. certifying as urgent the proposed P200 wage increase,” it said in a statement, written in mixed English and Filipino, on Thursday.

The group also described this as a disregard for the aspirations of the Filipino people, pointing out that nearly all of Marcos’ priority bills were swiftly passed by Congress—some within just hours or days of sessions.

“They are quick to pass self-serving programs and proposals that are vulnerable to corruption, but when it comes to wage increases for ordinary Filipinos, Marcos Jr.’s response is: not ideal, impossible. It’s clear—when there’s a will, there’s a way. When there isn’t, there are countless excuses,” it added./mr