Malacañang on Tuesday denied that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would suspend the ₱85 daily minimum wage increase for workers in Metro Manila, saying its implementation will push through as scheduled.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro said President Marcos has not ordered any suspension of the wage hike.

“Wala pong suspension. Wala pong paghihinto rito. Tuloy-tuloy po ito,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.

The clarification came after the Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) urged the government to suspend the implementation of the wage increase pending a comprehensive economic review, warning that the adjustment could lead to higher prices and job losses.

Castro also said the Palace has not received any request from the private sector seeking to suspend the wage order.

“Wala pong naipaabot sa amin kung may nag-request mula sa private sector. Wala pong utos na ito ay suspend,” she emphasized.

The adjustment will be implemented in two tranches, with the first ₱60 increase taking effect on July 25, 2026, followed by an additional ₱25 increase in February 2027.

In a statement issued on July 20, the FEF called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to place Wage Order No. 27 in abeyance while conducting a comprehensive review of its economic impact.

The group said the approval of the wage order despite the dissent of employer representatives raises questions about whether the country's tripartite wage-setting mechanism under Republic Act No. 6727 is operating as intended.