Malacañang said Thursday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is closely studying the proposed P200 legislated wage hike recently approved by the House of Representatives, emphasizing that the measure’s economic impact must be thoroughly reviewed before any final decision is made.
In a Palace briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President wants to ensure that any wage increase will be sustainable and truly beneficial for Filipino workers.
“The President’s message is, and I quote, ‘We will look at the economic implications of these and how to resolve these with the opinion of the wage boards, since the wage boards are also creations of Congress,'” Castro said.
She added that the administration is committed to hearing all stakeholder concerns and is awaiting the Senate’s completion of its own deliberations on the bill.
Castro stressed that Marcos is committed to ensuring that any decision regarding wage adjustments will benefit Filipino workers, but emphasized that a thorough evaluation of all factors and stakeholder concerns must be conducted.
Asked if this means the President is likely to sign the bill into law, Castro said, “It will still be studied. The Senate has yet to finish deliberating on the matter.”
She reiterated that the administration is carefully considering the bill’s possible effects on the economy, even as it works toward what is “right and most beneficial for the Filipino worker.”
The proposed wage hike bill must still pass the Senate before it can be transmitted to Malacañang for the President’s signature.
