SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on Monday called on Congress to give the proposed minimum wage hike the same urgency as the impending impeachment proceedings, emphasizing that with only two session days left in the 19th Congress, both matters must be prioritized.
“We are down to the wire,” Hontiveros said, warning against sidelining the minimum wage bill. “Let’s not forget the minimum wage workers.”
Hontiveros, a co-sponsor of the Senate’s PHP100 daily wage hike proposal, stressed that while impeachment talks are important, addressing workers’ needs amid inflation and rising costs is equally critical.
She reminded lawmakers that the wage hike could mean food, school supplies, and transportation for struggling families.
The Senate and House of Representatives have passed different versions of the wage hike bill—the House proposing a PHP200 increase. Hontiveros urged the immediate convening of the bicameral conference committee to reconcile the versions and transmit the final measure to Malacañang.
“Both chambers agree it’s time for a pay hike,” she said. Hontiveros also appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify the bill as urgent to ensure swift passage, saying it would be a long-overdue act of justice for Filipino workers.
