Marcos to look into economic implications of wage hike — Palace
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. will look into the economic implications of the proposed increase in the minimum wage hike for workers, Malacañang said Thursday.
According to Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro, Marcos wants to provide what's best for the Filipino workers.
''Nais ng Pangulo na maibigay kung ano ang makakabuti sa manggagawang Pilipino,'' Castro said during a briefing.
(The President wants to give the best for the Filipino workers.)
With 171 yes votes, zero no votes, and one abstention, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the proposed measure granting a P200 increase in the daily minimum wage for workers in the private sector.
The House version of the legislated wage hike offers a higher increase than the P100 approved by the Senate.
The House and the Senate will have to reconcile the differences at the bicameral conference committee before transmitting the enrolled bill to Malacañang for President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s signature to become a law.
Congress has until June 13 or the last session day to reconcile their differing versions of the wage hike measure and ratify the reconciled version for the bill to be ready for the President's signature.
Otherwise, the measure has to be refiled in the next Congress. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
3 hours ago
- GMA Network
Marcos urged to intervene for release of Pinoy seafarers jailed in Algeria
With only four months left before Algeria's Supreme Court hands down its verdict, the wives of three Filipino seafarers convicted of drug trafficking there appealed to President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. to personally speak with the Algerian government and help bring their husbands home. At a press conference, the wives — who identified themselves only as Joy, Marie, and Rose — said their husbands were sentenced to 15 years in prison. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said the seafarers were among the eight Filipinos arrested in July 2023 after 35.8 kilos of cocaine were found on MV Harris, a Malta-flagged container ship. While all eight were initially convicted by a trial court, five were later acquitted by Algeria's Court of Appeals, leaving only three to face final judgment. The ruling of the Supreme Court is expected to be released in October 2025. The three are a 43-year-old Chief Officer, a 54-year-old Bosun, and a 29-year-old Ordinary Seaman. Joy said since the last chance to save their husbands is the Supreme Court, a government to government approach should be done. "Kung puwede may government to government approach or diplomatic process na puwede gawin (If government to government approach or diplomatic process is possible, they should do it)," she said. Marie, wife of the Bosun, tearfully appealed to the President for help. "Matanda na ako, 58 years old. Maawa po kayo President Marcos sana po matulungan ninyo kami sa aming mga daing at kahilingan. Please po President Bongbong Marcos," she said. (I am already old, 58 years old, please have pity with us, President Marcos, help us with our concerns and wishes.) The families clarified they have received support from the Department of Migrant Workers and the Department of Foreign Affairs, including legal assistance and help with their March 2025 visit to Algeria to see their husbands. "May meeting kami kahapon (DMW, DFA). sabi nila they're committed sa kaso na 'to at hindi sila nagpapabaya. Nakikita naman namin nandyan sila to assist pero ang kailangan po namin ay urgency. Baka puwedeng makausap ng Pangulo 'yung government ng po namin aksyon talaga galing mismo sa Presidente. Umaaksyon po ang DMW at DFA, pero iba po talaga ang magagawa ng ating Pangulo," said Rose. (We had a meeting yesterday with DMW and DFA, they said they're committed to this case and they were not negligent. We really see that they are there to assist us but what we need is urgency. Maybe the President can talk with the government of need action from the President. DMW and DFA do their part but it is really different if it is the President.) Cacdac open to appeal Cacdac said he is open to personally appeal to the Algerian government the release of three Filipino seafarers, however, he stressed the need to consult first with the DFA. 'Kino-consider ko na rin na baka puwedeng ako ang magsagawa nung pag-apela. Pero ito'y ini-estima pa natin, tayo'y nakikipag-ugnayan pa sa Department of Foreign Affairs,' Cacdac said in an interview following a press conference held by the wives of the detained seafarers. (I am considering if I can make the appeal but I am still weighing it. We are coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding this.) The DMW chief stressed caution in determining the appropriate course of diplomatic intervention beyond the existing legal appeal: 'Dito sa aspeto ng intervention na hinihingi nila, again, we need to seek the advice of the DFA and also our lawyers, our legal counsel, whether or not this would be the appropriate intervention aside from the appeal to the Supreme Court,' he explained. Cacdac said President Marcos has instructed the DMW to assist the families since the start, but any diplomatic or high-level intervention would have to be carefully evaluated. 'Ang utos ni Presidente, tulungan 'yung mga pamilya, of course, since day one. At this stage, we just need to carefully assess the situation as to whether there will be interventions aside from the appeal sa Korte Suprema,' he explained. He said he was set to meet with the three wives later in the day to reassure them of continued government support. 'Magtatatlong taon na natin silang tinutulungan… Patuloy namin ibibigay ang aming taus-pusong assurance ng assistance at suporta (We have been assisting them for three years. We will continue to give them assistance and support),' he said. The DMW has already facilitated two visits to Algeria for the families. Cacdac said they are willing to assist again should the families wish to return. 'Sinamahan namin sila doon sa dalawang beses… sasamahan namin uli sila para i-assist sila sa pagdalaw sa piitan (We accompanied them during their will accompany them again should they visit again),' he said. Should the Supreme Court rule against the seafarers, Cacdac noted that clemency may be explored—but added that it is too early to discuss that option. 'Kapatawaran could be an option… pero hindi ko muna ibibigay yung option na 'yun at this stage kasi hihingi muna tayo ng kaukulang payo sa DFA, pending yung kaso na nasa Korte Suprema (Clemency could be an option but I would not float that this early because we are still seeking advice from the DFA as the case is still pending with the Supreme Court),' he said. Consular services extended The DFA, for its part, said it has been extending regular consular services to the previously eight and now, three Filipino seafarers detained in Algeria despite challenges in coordinating with authorities in the delivery of those services. "We are coordinating with the Greek shipping company, which has provided legal assistance from the beginning. We assisted by providing consular services (jail visitation) and visa assistance for the next of kin to visit detainees via our ATN Fund," it added in a statement. On the request for diplomatic intervention, it noted that the judicial proceedings have not yet been terminated and that the case is with the Algerian Supreme Court. "While we are exploring all options, the DFA deeply respects a sovereign state's internal processes, and diplomatic interventions should be explored judiciously," it said. It further said that since the case is still ongoing and there is no final and executory decision yet, it may be more prudent to just let the company-hired lawyers to continue to represent the three seafarers at court for now as what they had successfully did for the five others who were acquitted. "Any other course of action, such as back-channeling, may be misconstrued to be maneuvering tactics to rig Algeria's judicial system, or questioning its fairness and impartiality," it explained. The DFA said all options are being explored and the department remains committed to the welfare of all overseas Filipinos. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 hours ago
- GMA Network
Prosecutor says House won't withdraw impeachment raps vs. VP Sara
'Returning it to sender or dismissing the impeachment complaint right away are unconstitutional acts,' Zamora told reporters in an online interview. The House prosecution panel is not considering withdrawing the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte or receiving them in case the Senate returns them to the House of Representatives, San Juan Rep Ysabel Maria Zamora said on Friday. Zamora said these options, as well as outrightly dismissing the impeachment complaint without a trial, are unconstitutional. 'Returning it to sender or dismissing the impeachment complaint right away are unconstitutional acts,' Zamora told reporters in an online interview. 'There's no option for the Senators to dismiss it. There's also no option for the House to withdraw it,' she added, citing the constitutional provision on the Senate impeachment court needing to hear the complaints forthrightly after they had been received. Zamora said the House prosecution panel was focused on preparations for the impeachment trial. She said Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro was assigned to read the articles of impeachment before the Senate on June 11. All 11 House prosecutors will be present. 'We have been preparing for several months, and we are still preparing. In fact, the members of the panel are preparing for our presentation in the Senate. So we are not affected by what's going on in the Senate, the draft resolution, or the comments that we hear from the Senators. We are still continuing to do our job because that is our job under the Constitution. So that is our duty. We have to be ready to present the evidence,' Zamora said. 'Honestly, it is our stand that they have already been convened or constituted as an impeachment court right from the start na nag-transmit tayo ng articles sa kanila,' Zamora said. She also said the House Prosecution Panel talked about the draft resolution prepared by the office of Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa to outrightly dismiss the impeachment complaint. 'We talked about it. We were shocked. But, you know, siguro dahil alam natin na some senators are really openly planning to dismiss or have the impeachment proceedings dismissed right away. Lalo na, alam naman natin si Senator Bato dela Rosa ay very close, isa sa mga bata ng Duterte family. So, you know, they will surely do everything to dismiss, to have it dismissed or to delay the process,' Zamora said. 'The mere fact na nag-draft sila ng isang resolution that openly violates the Constitution is shocking for us,' she added. She also denied Senate President Chiz Escudero's pronouncement that members of the House of Representatives are 'sunud-sunuran' to House Speaker Martin Romualdez. 'Hindi po kami sunud-sunuran kay Speaker. In fact, uulitin po, wala pong naging pilitan sa pagpirma ng impeachment,' Zamora stressed. Zamora also thanked the Catholic Church for its support for the impeachment. The Church has announced it will conduct a vigil at the Senate next week. 'We are very thankful for their support for the impeachment. Like we always say, hindi naman po natin ginagawa to para panigan ang isang party or what but we are doing this as our duty to the nation to protect the Office of the Vice Presidency, the Office of the Vice President,' Zamora said. –NB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 hours ago
- GMA Network
Abolish SHS? Angara says up to Congress to decide
Education Secretary Sonny Angara acknowledged Friday the lapses in the implementation of the senior high school (SHS) curriculum under the K to 12 program, but said that it is up to Congress to determine whether or not it should continue. This, as Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada filed a measure seeking to rationalize the basic education system in the country by removing the SHS, citing reason that it 'still has not fully achieved its goal' to produce skilled and job-ready graduates 12 years after the enactment of Republic Act No. 10533, also known as the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013. Angara, who served as senator before being appointed as chief of the Department of Education (DepEd), pointed out that the agency is set to implement changes in the SHS this incoming School Year 2025-2026, through the pilot run of the revised SHS curriculum. 'Hindi maganda ang naging implementation nitong nakaraang dekada. Masyadong marami ang subjects at nakahon masyado ang mga bata. Hindi sila nakakapili ng subject/s,' Angara said in a statement. (The SHS' implementation in the last decade has not been good. There were too many subjects and the learners were constrained. They were not able to choose subject/s.) 'Having said that, ang desisyon kung ipagpapatuloy ang SHS o hindi ay Kongreso lamang po ang makakapagsabi at makakapag-pasya,' he added. (Having said that, the decision whether or not to continue SHS is up to the Congress to say and decide on.) The incoming academic year will run from June 16, 2025, and end on March 31, 2026, marking a return to the pre-pandemic school calendar. There are 841 schools set to participate in the pilot run of the revised SHS curriculum, which underwent extensive review and consultation from education stakeholders, in School Year 2025-2026. Based on the initial results of the pilot, the Education Department will announce if all senior high schools will subsequently be required to implement the new curriculum by SY 2026-2027. 'Shorten college education' For Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, the proposal to streamline general education subjects must also fulfill the promise made with the K-12 program—that additional years in high school would shorten college education. 'While policy decisions rest with the DepEd and CHED, college curricula must avoid duplication so students can focus on their specialization and graduate in less than four years,' Gatchalian said. 'They should not bear the burden of extra semesters simply because the original intent of the K-12 reform—made 12 years ago—has yet to be fully realized,' he continued. Under Senate Bill No. 3001, Estrada seeks to retain the fundamental principles of RA 10533, sans the SHS level, in a bid 'to simplify the high school system while still making sure students get quality education that meets global standards.' He recommended a one-year kindergarten education, followed by six years of elementary education, and four years of secondary education. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
