Kamanggagawa Partylist Representative Eli San Fernando on Wednesday clarified that the bill seeking to abolish separate provincial wage rates will be implemented gradually to avoid market shock.
San Fernando said the consolidated measure, already approved at the committee level, was designed to balance wage reform with business sustainability.
“Contrary to the misconception na pag napasabilang batas yan, agad-agad magbubuwag na yung regional wage boards, hindi po. Magkakaroon ng transition period,” San Fernando said in a television interview.
The bill provides for a three-year transition period, with initial implementation in pilot areas such as highly urbanized cities (HUCs), instead of nationwide rollout.
“It can be HUCs, component cities, or it can be according to enterprise size. So maraming puwedeng pag-usapan. There are a thousand ways to skin a cat, sabi nga nila,” he added.
San Fernando explained that micro-enterprises would be exempted, with possible extensions to small enterprises, while larger businesses would be expected to comply with Manila rates.
“In-exempt natin yung mga micro-enterprises. Pwedeng isama hanggang small enterprises. So tatargetin natin yung mga malalaking enterprises who have the capacity to give Manila rate,” he said.
The measure, consolidated from House Bills Nos. 55, 94, 3266, 4102, and 5294, seeks to amend the Labor Code by establishing a single national minimum wage system.
San Fernando noted that wage disparities between Metro Manila and other highly urbanized areas are no longer justified, citing comparable or even higher living costs in cities like Baguio, Metro Davao, Metro GenSan, and Metro Cebu.
“For example in Baguio, Metro Davao, Metro GenSan and Metro Cebu…hindi necessarily mas mura ang renta kumpara sa Metro Manila. Pagdating sa food, many instances, mas mahal pa sa probinsya because of added transportation costs,” he said.
San Fernando emphasized that Kamanggagawa remains open to consultations with business groups and stakeholders as the bill progresses in Congress.
“We’re really open to discussing this with our partners in the business sector,” he said.