Senators weigh House-approved P200 wage hike amid various concerns

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

FILE: Workers keep their balance on a steel scaffolding at a construction site in Timog Avenue, Quezon City on Wednesday (April 30, 2025). (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – Senators on Thursday expressed caution over the House of Representatives’ approval of a PHP200 daily minimum wage hike, flagging potential risks to small businesses and a possible veto from Malacañang.

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito warned that while wage hikes may be politically appealing, they could backfire on struggling businesses if not carefully balanced.

“We have to make sure also na yung business will be able to survive na hindi naman mamatay yung negosyo. Baka kasi masyadong mabigat sa iba ‘yan especially for the small and medium scale businesses (We have to make sure also that the business will be able to survive and not end up shutting down. It might be too burdensome for some especially for the small and medium scale businesses),” he during during a Senate forum.

“May kasabihan nga (There is a saying) ‘we do not kill the goose that lays the golden egg.’ Kumbaga, ibibigay natin yung maganda politically pero baka naman pinapatay natin yung negosyo. Kailangan nating i-balance eh, both from the employees and business sector and also sa economic managers kung ano yung kakayanin (In other words, we might be offering something that looks good politically, but we could be killing the business in the process. We need to strike a balance between the needs of employees, the business sector, and what our economic managers say is feasible),” he added.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who authored the Senate’s version seeking a PHP100 wage increase, welcomed the House passage but urged swift coordination.

“If they just want to adopt it, so be it. Let us adopt. But if they plan to do some amendments, I also urge my colleagues in the Senate and the Senate President to come up with a bicam (Bicameral Committee meeting) as soon as possible para ma-tackle pa ito (to tackle this) in the next three days before we end sine die,” he said in a statement.

Senator Joel Villanueva, however, cautioned that simply adopting the House version could backfire, citing that the Senate version proposes only a PHP100 increase, thus the need to discuss this in the bicameral.

“Kawawa naman ang Pangulo. Parang puro problema na lang yung ibinibigay sa kanya at parang ang tingin natin kapag nangyari ‘yan, diretso veto (The President is being burdened. We’re just handing him problems, and it seems like if that happens, the measure will just be vetoed),” he added.