The government is currently preparing all relevant documents required to bar the temporary restraining order (TRO) against the ₱85 wage hike for workers in the National Capital Region (NCR), according to a report by RH 14 Leth Narciso on Monday.

In a press briefing at the Malacañang, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that while the administration respects judicial authority, it also has a duty to advance reforms that would benefit workers.

In addition, Castro argued that those opposed to the wage hike should have filed an appeal with the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) and not a court.

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) is ready to defend the wage order first announced by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Palace official said.

Castro was unable to announce a definitive date for the implementation of the wage hike, considering the TRO will be in effect for 20 days. Moreover, the Palace cannot preempt the court’s decision nor the OSG’s next moves, she added.