Amid the issue of a wage hike, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is committed to listening to all sectors, including workers, businesses, and investors, to come up with decisions that benefit all, a Malacañang official said.

“At sa lahat po ng kakayanin ng administrasyon at sa pakikipag-usap sa lahat ng stakeholders – mga manggagawa, mga negosyante, mga investors – lahat po ito ay pakikinggan para na rin sa kabutihan ng lahat,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.

In a press briefing, Castro said that the administration of President Marcos has been implementing programs to improve the working conditions of Filipino workers, including the holding of job fairs, which have generated 170,000 jobs from 2022 to May 1, 2025.

In addition, due to the US$27 billion in investments that flowed into the country from 2022 to 2024, 350,000 jobs were created nationwide, Castro said.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced on Monday that the National Capital Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board issued Wage Order No. 26, granting a PhP50 wage hike.

“At kung nagbigay po ngayon ang Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board ng PhP50 na wage hike, iyan po ang na-evaluate na maaaring ibigay sa ating mga manggagawa para maibsan po ang kahit kaunting hirap na lumalabas po ito ay PhP1,300 per month,” Castro said.

As to the President’s support to congressional efforts for a legislated wage hike, Castro said the Palace would thoroughly study the matter.

“Kasi kung magdudulot naman ito ng lay-off dahil hindi kakayanin ng karamihang maliliit na mga negosyante, mas marami pong mahihirapang mga manggagawa dahil baka mawalan sila ng trabaho. Kaya po, itong lahat ng ito ay pag-aaralan para sa ikabubuti po ng lahat,” Castro said. | PND