Akbayan Partylist Rep. Perci Cendaña decried the Senate and the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council’s (LEDAC) inaction towards the proposed P200 across-the-board wage hike.
In a statement on late Thursday, June 12, Cendaña slammed the Senate’s inaction and emphasized that the upper chamber had “ample time and opportunity” to adopt the House version and fast-track the bill’s passage.
Both houses of Congress passed their versions of the measure, with the Senate approving a P100 wage increase. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives adopted a P200 wage increase.
House Bill 11376, or the “Wage Hike for Minimum Wage Workers Act,” was passed to the plenary with 172 congressmen. RH 12 Milky Rigonan reported that one abstained during its passing.
“Kung seryoso ang Senado sa pagtataas ng sahod ng mga manggagawa, dapat in-adopt nila agad ang House version noong natanggap nila ito. Kaunting hakbang na lang ay maisusumite na sana ito sa Malacañang para mapirmahan bilang batas. Sayang ang pagkakataon. Nauna pa ang long weekend plans kaysa sa kapakanan ng mga manggagawa," the representative-elect said.
Simultaneously, the lawmaker criticized LEDAC, which is chaired by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., over its failure to certify the measure as urgent. Cendaña highlighted that this move could have accelerated its passage.
“Ang LEDAC ang dapat tumutulak ng mga panukalang makabuluhan sa mamamayan. Pero sa halip na manindigan para sa P200 wage hike, pinili nilang i-downplay ang pangangailangan ng mga manggagawa,” he emphasized.
"Imbes na akbayan nila ang mga naghihikahos na manggagawa, tinutulak pa nila lalo sa kahirapan," Cendaña added.
Moreover, he questioned the Marcos administration’s economic priorities, adding that if workers are among the latter’s plans.
"The administration's silence speaks volumes about their priorities—and unfortunately, workers are not among them,” Cendaña said, highlighting that the Senate pushed for a watered-down P100 version.
Labor groups have criticized the said version from the Senate, describing it as grossly insufficient amid soaring prices and the rising cost of living.
Despite this, the Akbayan Partylist vowed to refile the measure in the incoming 20th Congress, asserting its commitment to labor welfare.
“Hindi pa tapos ang laban. Sa susunod na Kongreso, isusulong natin muli ang P200 wage hike bill. Kailangan ito ngayon higit kailanman, sa harap ng walang tigil na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin at serbisyong panlipunan,” Cendaña concluded.
