REVILLA VOWS TO CONTINUE PUSHING FOR P150 LEGISLATED WAGE HIKE
SENATOR Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. on Monday morning (July 17) vowed that he will continue to push and champion the passage of his P150 across-the-board wage hike bill as he stressed the importance of legislating it to allow the meager earnings of laborers to catch up with the rising cost of basic goods.
This is in spite of the recent P40 wage increase approved by Metro Manila’s regional wage board and affirmed by the National Wages and Productivity Commision.
“Napakalaki ng utang na loob natin sa mga manggagawa, at kahit ngayong ipinatupad na ang P40 wage hike sa NCR ay naniniwala akong kulang na kulang ito para sa pang-araw-araw na gastusin kaya tuloy pa rin ang pagsulong natin sa P150 na dagdag sahod pa”, the veteran lawmaker said.
Revilla has filed Senate Bill No. 2018 early this year, together with Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri who filed his own version, aiming to grant a P150 wage increase to all employees of the private sector regardless of the region or sector they are employed.
The solon has consistently filed legislative measures aiming to raise the daily wage of laborers as early as his first term as a senator during the 14th Congress, and subsequently during 15th, 16th, 18th, and 19th Congress.
During the 16th and 18th Congress, Revilla was the only legislator in the upper chamber to file measures to such effect.
“Naniniwala ako na isa sa mga araw na darating ay makukuha natin ang tagumpay hinggil sa karagdagang sahod na dekada na nating ipinaglalaban, kaya nagpapasalamat ako kay SP Zubiri at mga kasamahan natin sa Senado dahil unti-unti ay lumiliwanag na ang lahat.”, Revilla remarked.
The three-term legislator also emphasized that laborers are the backbone of the country’s economy and their great contribution to the nation should be reciprocated with a true living wage.
“Everyone is feeling the brunt of these hard times. Lalo na ang ating mga manggagawa na silang nagtataguyod ng ating ekonomiya. Maging sa nayon man o siyudad, mga nagtatrabaho sa bukid, sa pabrika at kahit ang mga nag-oopisina, sila ang mga nagpapakapagod magtrabaho na hindi lang nakakatulong sa kani-kanila nilang pamilya kung di sa atin ring bansa. Kaya panahon na para ipasa ang isang makatarungang across-the-board wage increase para sa kanilang lahat.” -30-