“P20 rice di sapat, P200 umento din dapat”—labor group

Press Release

May 1, 2025

 

Judy Ann Miranda, secretary general of the group Partido Manggagawa stated that “P20 bigas ay di sapat, P200 umento din dapat. Offering cheap rice is not enough, as Malacanang seems to think. P200 wage hike plus P20 subsidized rice are initial steps to alleviate the conditions of poor and hungry Filipinos. We ask President Bong Bong Marcos to certify as urgent the pending P200 salary increase bill in Congress.”

 

Labor unions and workers groups are all set for nationwide rallies tomorrow to push their demand for a legislated wage hike.

·        Manila: Groups comprising National Wage Coalition will assemble along various points in España then march at 7:00 am to Mendiola for a joint program. PM and allied groups Kapatiran, PM Kabataan, Tara Kabataan, Dakila and Ina ng Bayan will assemble at Petron Blumentritt at 6:30 am

·        Cebu: Various labor groups will converge at Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City at 9:00 am

for a joint program

·        Bacolod: Sugar farm workers and allied groups will hold an indoor assembly in the morning. In the afternoon, they will assemble at Rizal Elementary School then march to Bacolod Plaza afternoon

·        Iloilo: The coalition United Labor will hold a program at 1:00 pm in front of UP Visayas

·        Iligan: Unions will hold a rally in the morning at the plaza with the city’s tripartite industrial peace council

 

Miranda added that “Apat na Dapat dahil P20 bigas ay di sapat!” Apat na Dapat refers to the labor agenda of wage hikes, regular employment, public services and no political dynasties. Miranda asked the government to “Complement the roll out of the P20 subsidized rice with certification of the P200 wage hike—if BBM is serious in responding to worsening hunger and poverty in the country.”

 

She insisted that “Filipino workers are amplifying their demands for higher wages, regular employment, and accessible public services amid worsening economic conditions. Recent surveys reveal the deepening crisis: over one in four Filipino families experience involuntary hunger, the highest rate since the pandemic, while more than half consider themselves poor, the worst in 21 years.”

 

Miranda added that “Reality on the ground contradicts the government’s rosy economic claims of low inflation and unemployment. The reality is stark: minimum wages remain below the poverty threshold, endo is rampant, and public services like PhilHealth are being gutted to fund political patronage.”

 

Many of the Labor Day events tomorrow will be joint activities of different workers groups. “While political dynasties like the Marcoses and Dutertes battle for power and loot public coffers, workers face hunger and exploitation. Enough of elite theatrics—Labor Day must unite workers across factions, regions, and generations behind a shared platform. On Labor Day, labor groups will be rallying together despite electoral divides, prioritizing workers’ demands over partisan loyalties,” Miranda ended. ###

“P200 wage hike + P20 subsidized rice”—labor group

The group Partido Manggagawa called on the government to complement the roll out of the P20 subsidized rice with certification of the P200 wage hike if it is serious in responding to worsening hunger and poverty in the country.  “Offering cheap rice is not enough, as Malacanang seems to think. P200 wage hike plus P20 subsidized rice are initial steps to alleviate the conditions of poor and hungry Filipinos. We ask President Bong Bong Marcos to certify as urgent the pending P200 salary increase bill in Congress,” stated Judy Ann Miranda, PM secretary general.

Labor unions and workers groups are all set for nationwide rallies tomorrow to push their demand for a legislated wage hike.

·        Manila: Groups comprising National Wage Coalition will assemble along various points in España then march at 7:00 am to Mendiola for a joint program. PM and allied groups will assemble at Petron Blumentritt at 6:30 am

·       Cebu: Various labor groups will converge at Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City at 9:00 am for a joint program

·        Bacolod: Sugar farm workers and allied groups will hold an indoor assembly in the morning. In the afternoon, they will assemble at Rizal Elementary School then march to Bacolod Plaza afternoon

·        Iloilo: The coalition United Labor will hold a program at 1:00 pm in front of UP Visayas then march to the Provincial Capitol for a joint program

·        Iligan: Unions will hold a rally in the morning at the plaza with the city’s tripartite industrial peace council

Miranda insisted that “Filipino workers are amplifying their demands for higher wages, regular employment, and accessible public services amid worsening economic conditions. Recent surveys reveal the deepening crisis: over one in four Filipino families experience involuntary hunger, the highest rate since the pandemic, while more than half consider themselves poor, the worst in 21 years.”

She added that “Reality on the ground contradicts the government’s rosy economic claims of low inflation and unemployment. The reality is stark: minimum wages remain below the poverty threshold, endo is rampant, and public services like PhilHealth are being gutted to fund political patronage.”

Many of the Labor Day events tomorrow will be joint activities of different workers groups. “While political dynasties like the Marcoses and Dutertes battle for power and loot public coffers, workers face hunger and exploitation. Enough of elite theatrics—Labor Day must unite workers across factions, regions, and generations behind a shared platform. On Labor Day, labor groups will be rallying together despite electoral divides, prioritizing workers’ demands over partisan loyalties,” Miranda ended.

April 30, 2025

Ibandila ang dagdag sahod at agenda ng manggagawa sa darating na Labor Day

 

Papatindi ang pagdarahop na dinaranas ng masang Pilipino sa harap ng maka-mayaman at maka-dayuhang patakaran ng gobyerno at sa gitna ng away ng naghaharing uri para sa poder pampulitika. Sinasalamin ito ng naglabasang mga survey nitong nakaraang mga araw na naglalantad sa lagay ng buhay ng masa. Lagpas isa sa bawat apat na pamilyang Pilipino ay walang makain—pinakamataas mula sa rurok na inabot noong pandemya. Lagpas kalahati naman ng mga pamilya ang itinuturing ang kanilang sarili na naghihirap—pinakamataas sa nakalipas na 21 taon.

 

Pinabubulaanan nito ang magagarang datos ng gobyerno. Kesyo napakaliit na ng inflation rate. Diumano napakababa na ang bilang ng walang trabaho. Hirap at gutom ang masa dahil ang minimum wage—sa kabila ng taunang pagtaas—ay mas mababa pa sa official poverty threshold. Hirap at gutom ang masa dahil endo ang pangkaraniwang trabaho. Hirap at gutom ang masa dahil ang serbisyo publiko gaya ng Philhealth ay kinakatkong para pondohan ang ayuda na pinamumudmod ng mga trapo.

 

Para makaahon sa gutom at hirap, kailangan ng pagbabago. Unahin ang manggagawa kaysa kapitalista. Itaas ang sahod at gawing regular ang trabaho. Pondohan ang serbisyo publiko bilang karapatan. Igalang ang karapatan ng manggagawa na mag-unyon at makipagnegosasyon sa kompanya para pagandahin ang kondisyon sa paggawa.

 

Wala tayong maasahan sa wage board na paborito ng mga kapitalista dahil laging barat ang provincial rate na binibigay. Sa halip, dapat isabatas ng umento sa sweldo. Sa Senado ay matagal nang pasado ang P100 dagdag sahod. Sa House of Representatives ay pumasa naman ang P200 umento. Basbas na lang ni Pangulong BBM ang kailangan para maging batas ang panukala.

 

Sa Labor Day, sa Araw ng Manggagawa, igiit natin ang agenda ng obrero: dagdag-sahod, regular na trabaho, serbisyo publiko at murang presyo. Unang hakbang ang mga ito para sa pag-alwan ng buhay ng masa. Panimulang mga hakbang ito tungo sa pagbabago ng maling sistemang umiiral.

 

Sa nakaraang dalawang taon ay saksi tayo sa away ng dalawang higanteng dynasty—ang mga Marcos at Duterte—para sa kapangyarihan na kurakutin ang kabang yaman ng bansa. Sa nakalipas na mga buwan ay saksi tayo sa paligsahan sa eleksyon ng mga trapo na puro porma at walang plataporma.

 

Tama na ang budots at budol ng mga dynasty at trapo. Oras na para tugunan ang hinaing at hiling ng mga manggagawa at mahihirap. Samantalahin natin ang Labor Day para imarka ang independyenteng boses at agenda ng uring manggagawa.

 

Sa NCR, habulin nating mabuo ang pagsasama-sama ng labor groups sa kabila ng kani-kaniyang kandidatong pinatatakbo. Ang plataporma ng manggagawa bilang sagot sa hirap at gutom ay sapat na rason para magkaisa ang magkakaibang grupo. Sa mga rehiyon, kumporme sa sitwasyon kung mabubuo ang kahalintulad na pagsasama. Saanmang lugar, tiyakin ang unipikasyon ng ating hanay sa batayan ng mga kahilingan ng mga manggagawa para sa masiglang paglahok sa mobilisasyon. Siguraduhing makadalo ang bagong mga lider at pwersa na naugnayan sa kampanyang elektoral upang masimulan ang kanilang pampulitikang pagkamulat. Bigyan ng pansin ang pagdalo ng mga kabataan at bigyan sila ng papel sa pagkilos. Maging daluyan ng pampulitikang konsolidasyon ng ating hanay ang pagkilos sa Labor Day bukod sa pampulitikang ahitasyon sa malawak na masa.

 

P200 dagdag sahod, sagot sa gutom at hirap!

Murang presyo, Regular na trabaho, Serbisyo publiko, ipaglaban!

Agenda ng manggagawa, ipanalo!

 

Partido Manggagawa

Workers Demand Wage Hike and Push Labor Agenda for Labor Day

 

 Amid economic hardship, workers demand higher wages, job security, and public services on Labor Day as political elites vie for power

 

·       Manila: Groups comprising National Wage Coalition will assemble along various points in España then march at 7:00 am to Mendiola for a joint program. PM and allied groups will assemble at Petron Blumentritt at 6:30 am

·       Cebu: Various labor groups will converge at Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City at 9:00 am

for a joint program

·       Bacolod: Sugar farm workers will lead the rally in the city

·       Iloilo: The coalition United Labor will assemble in the morning in front of UP Visayas then march to the Provincial Capitol for a joint program

·       Iligan: Unions will hold a rally in the morning at the plaza with the city’s tripartite industrial peace council

 

As the nation approaches Labor Day, Filipino workers are amplifying their demands for higher wages, regular employment, and accessible public services amid worsening economic conditions. Recent surveys reveal the deepening crisis: over one in four Filipino families experience involuntary hunger—the highest rate since the pandemic—while more than half consider themselves poor, the worst in 21 years. 

 

These findings contradict the government’s rosy economic claims of low inflation and unemployment. The reality is stark: minimum wages remain below the poverty threshold, contractualization (endo) is rampant, and public services like PhilHealth are being gutted to fund political patronage. 

 

Workers’ Demands

 

Workers demand a legislated wage increase and reject the regional wage board system that keeps provincial rates pitifully low. The Senate has approved a ₱100 hike, while the House passed ₱200. President BBM must immediately endorse a legislated salary increase.

·       Nationwide wage hike, not provincial rates

·       Regular jobs, not precarious endo contracts

·       Fully funded public services as a right, not subject to patronage

·       Respect for labor rights, including unionization and collective bargaining

 

Labor Day must spotlight the independent voice of the working class, whose agenda—higher pay, job security, affordable prices, and public services—are initial steps towards a lasting solution to mass suffering. 

 

Political Hypocrisy vs. Workers’ Unity

 

While political dynasties like the Marcoses and Dutertes battle for power and loot public coffers, workers face hunger and exploitation.

 

Enough of elite theatrics—Labor Day must unite workers across factions, regions, and generations behind a shared platform. 

 

On Labor Day, labor groups will be rallying together despite electoral divides, prioritizing workers’ demands over partisan loyalties. 

 

PM urges workers in key cities nationwide to join the Labor Day mobilizations to press for a P200 wage hike, regular jobs, quality public services, and affordable prices for basic goods and services.

April 28, 2025

Workers Demand Wage Hike and Push Labor Agenda for Labor Day

 

Amid economic hardship, workers demand higher wages, job security, and public services on Labor Day as political elites vie for power

 

·       Manila: Groups comprising National Wage Coalition will assemble along various points in España then march at 7:00 am to Mendiola for a joint program. PM and allied groups will assemble at Petron Blumentritt at 6:30 am

·       Cebu: Various labor groups will converge at Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City at 9:00 am for a joint program

·       Iloilo: The coalition United Labor will assemble in the morning in front of UP Visayas then march to the Provincial Capitol for a joint program

·       Iligan: Unions will hold a rally in the morning at the plaza with the city’s tripartite industrial peace council

 

As the nation approaches Labor Day, Filipino workers are amplifying their demands for higher wages, regular employment, and accessible public services amid worsening economic conditions. Recent surveys reveal the deepening crisis: over one in four Filipino families experience involuntary hunger—the highest rate since the pandemic—while more than half consider themselves poor, the worst in 21 years. 

 

These findings contradict the government’s rosy economic claims of low inflation and unemployment. The reality is stark: minimum wages remain below the poverty threshold, contractualization (endo) is rampant, and public services like PhilHealth are being gutted to fund political patronage. 

 

Workers’ Demands

 

Workers demand a legislated wage increase and reject the regional wage board system that keeps provincial rates pitifully low. The Senate has approved a ₱100 hike, while the House passed ₱200. President BBM must immediately endorse a legislated salary increase.

·       Nationwide wage hike, not provincial rates

·       Regular jobs, not precarious endo contracts

·       Fully funded public services as a right, not subject to patronage

·       Respect for labor rights, including unionization and collective bargaining

 

Labor Day must spotlight the independent voice of the working class, whose agenda—higher pay, job security, affordable prices, and public services—are initial steps towards a lasting solution to mass suffering. 

 

Political Hypocrisy vs. Workers’ Unity

 

While political dynasties like the Marcoses and Dutertes battle for power and loot public coffers, workers face hunger and exploitation.

 

Enough of elite theatrics—Labor Day must unite workers across factions, regions, and generations behind a shared platform. 

 

On Labor Day, labor groups will be rallying together despite electoral divides, prioritizing workers’ demands over partisan loyalties. 

 

PM urges workers in key cities nationwide to join the Labor Day mobilizations to press for P200 wage hike, regular jobs, quality public services, and affordable prices for basic goods and services.

Partido Manggagawa

April 27, 2025