27/03/2026
TUCP PUSHES ₱5,000 MONTHLY WAGE SUBSIDY FOR OVER 5 MILLION MINIMUM WAGE EARNERS AMID COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS DUE TO MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) proposes a ₱5,000 monthly wage subsidy for over five million minimum wage earners as the House of Representatives and the Senate have yet to convene a special session to discuss and pass the proposed ₱200 legislated wage hike.
“Hindi naman puwedeng tumaas na ang presyo ng lahat maliban lang sa sweldo. Kung may ‘fuel subsidy’ para sa sektor ng transportasyon, dapat meron ding ‘wage subsidy’ para sa ating higit limang milyong minimum wage earners. Higit tatlong dekada na silang pinabayaan ng regional wage boards mula pa 1989 pati ba naman ngayong krisis ay muli silang papabayaan lalo ng DOLE ni minsan ay hindi kami pinulong at ang UPLIFT Committee ng Palasyo ay nabuo nang hindi man lang kinilala o isinama ang boses ng mga manggagawa,” stated the TUCP which attended the Senate Proacting Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (PROTECT) committee hearing today, 26 March 2026.
Recently, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Acting Secretary Rolando Toledo confirmed that the government has approximately ₱230 billion in available funds for crisis response.
“Our proposed ₱5,000 monthly wage subsidy is equivalent to roughly two months of the ₱100 daily wage increase which the Senate already passed last year during the 19th Congress. The required initial funding of ₱25 billion is only about 10% of the government’s estimated ₱230 billion available for crisis response. There is no reason for the Government to keep depriving workers of this urgent relief after denying them their fundamental right to a living wage and amid the Palace’s continued delay or even denial of certifying the legislated wage hike as urgent,” explained the TUCP.
To further cushion the crushing impact of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis to Filipino workers and their families, the TUCP pushes for the immediate comprehensive five-point response KAPIT:
K – Kanselahin ang buwis sa petrolyo, kuryente, at pagkain! Full suspension of excise tax and VAT on basic commodities.
A – Agapan ang presyo! Price control especially on diesel and food.
P – Pataasin ang sweldo! Immediate special session of Congress to pass the ₱200 legislated wage hike.
I – Ibigay ang minimum wage subsidy! ₱5,000 monthly subsidy for over five million minimum wage earners.
T – Tigil bayad utang muna! Zero or low-interest calamity loans, plus mandatory grace period and loan moratorium from SSS, GSIS, and Pag-IBIG.
“KAPIT, KABABAYAN! Pero higit sa lahat, lalo na ang Gobyerno, KUMILOS NA!,” underscored the TUCP. See less
— with Raymond Democrito Cañete Mendoza.
