Solons cite pro-labor legislations, hail PH workforce on Labor Day
(INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)
MANILA, Philippines — “Labor Day is not just about honoring Filipino workers—it is about delivering real, lasting change to improve their lives.”
These were the words used by House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez when he recalled how the lower chamber turned “respect into results” and ensured that every Filipino who works hard has a government that works just as hard in return.
In a Labor Day statement, Romualdez enumerated all key legislation they passed for the benefit of the Filipino workforce.
“We passed the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act, a national roadmap that aligns skills with real jobs—strengthening the link between education, training, and employment. It structures job creation, closing the gap between labor supply and industry demand,” said Romualdez.
“We enacted the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, erasing over ₱57 billion in land debt for more than 600,000 farmers. That means freedom from decades of burdens and a fresh start for the families who feed our nation,” he added.
He likewise recognized the chamber’s institutionalization of free and legal aid for uniformed personnel through Republic Act No. 12177.
Similarly, he cited the passage of the Welfare of Caregivers Act, the Eddie Garcia Law, the approval of a measure seeking to increase the service incentive leaves of workers from five to 10, the passage of laws that protect freelancers, as well as the institutionalization of The Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers, otherwise known as Tupad.
These, for Romualdez, are not empty gestures.
“This is the promise of Bagong Pilipinas—a government that listens, acts, and delivers, especially for the working majority. To every Filipino worker— in every field, factory, clinic, classroom, office, and job site—we see your sacrifice. We honor your strength. And we will always have your back,” he said.
On passage of legislated wage hike bill
In a separate statement also issued on Thursday, Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog party-list Representative Jude Acidre likewise honored Filipino workers, whom he called the backbone of the Philippine economy.
Acidre said Tingog Pary-list believes that supporting workers is not just a political duty but a moral obligation.
“Progress means nothing if our workers cannot feel it in their everyday lives. No matter how good our economic statistics may look, they mean little if wages can’t keep up with the cost of living. The real test of progress is the take-home pay of every Filipino breadwinner—what they can bring home to put food on the table, send their children to school, and live with dignity,” said Acidre.
With this, he called for the immediate approval of the legislated wage hike now pending in Congress.
“This Labor Day, let us not stop at praise or platitudes. Let us rise to the challenge and deliver real change. Now is the time to act. Let us stand together—with courage, with urgency, and with one voice—for the rights, dignity, and future of every Filipino worker,” he said.
Similar to Acidre’s call, Rizal 4th District Rep. Fidel Nograles — head of the chamber’s panel on labor and employment – likewise urged President Marcos Jr. to certify as urgent the wage hike bill.
“As we commemorate Labor Day, I hope that we in government be reminded of the continued plight of workers who find it ever more challenging to make ends meet. In this regard, I once again urge Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., to certify as urgent the pending wage hike bill,” Nograles said.
Nograles said that the President’s certification could be a critical push to convince lawmakers to pass the bill on third reading.
According to Nograles, if the House of Representatives can pass the wage hike bill on 3rd reading before the closing of the 19th Congress, the Senate and the House could then proceed with reconciling the differences between their respective versions during the bicameral conference committee.
The Senate’s version of the wage hike bill, which it passed in 2024, proposes a P100 daily wage hike.
