In a new episode set to drop tomorrow, PGMN anchor Orion Perez D unpacks two major wage hike proposals currently gaining traction in Congress — one pushing for a ₱200 daily increase and another proposing a nationwide ₱1,200 minimum wage. The episode examines how both measures could reshape the country’s economic and employment landscape.
Perez explained that the ₱200 wage hike bill was initially approved by the House of Representatives under the 19th Congress in June 2025. However, it lapsed after the Senate failed to deliberate on it before adjournment. Lawmakers from the Akbayan Partylist and the Dinagat Islands have since refiled the proposal in the 20th Congress, which reconvened earlier this year.
While that measure awaits deliberation, the Wage Board of the National Capital Region has already approved a ₱50 increase for Metro Manila workers, raising the daily minimum wage from ₱645 to ₱695. The adjustment aims to offset inflationary pressures in the region but applies only to workers within the capital.
Perez also reported that a separate proposal filed by Kabataan Partylist Representative Renee Co and ACT-Teachers Partylist Representative Tonchi Tinio seeks to establish a ₱1,200 minimum wage across all regions. Based on 22 working days per month, this would amount to about ₱26,400 in monthly income.
According to Orion Perez, the proposal may appear beneficial on paper but could lead to widespread business closures and job losses if implemented without structural economic reforms. “This huge jump from the current ₱695 in Metro Manila to ₱1,200 nationwide will definitely translate into a lot of job losses as so many businesses will be forced to lay employees off—or worse, close down,” Perez said.
The anchor explained that long-term growth depends on expanding employment opportunities and attracting investment rather than legislating massive pay hikes. “The best way forward is to have more jobs by attracting and inviting so many more quality companies to come in and create quality, high-paying jobs for our people,” he added.
Perez’s upcoming episode delves deeper into how policy-driven wage increases might affect inflation, small and medium-sized enterprises, and the overall job market. He also discusses why addressing deeper economic barriers—such as limited investments and restrictive business regulations—could hold the key to sustainable wage growth in the Philippines.
Both the ₱200 and ₱1,200 wage hike proposals remain pending for committee deliberation in the House of Representatives of the Philippines, with debates expected to intensify in the coming months.
The episode premieres tomorrow on Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN) across all digital platforms.
