ILOILO City — Labor groups in Panay Island have intensified calls for wage increases amid surging fuel prices and inflation driven by global tensions, but authorities revealed that no formal petitions for wage hikes have been filed in Western Visayas, raising concerns over a widening gap between workers’ hardships and institutional action.
The absence of petitions comes even as workers reel from escalating daily expenses, with labor leaders warning that incomes are rapidly being eroded by the combined impact of oil price spikes and rising commodity costs.
Mario Andon, spokesperson for United Labor – Panay, underscored the worsening plight of workers, particularly those in the informal sector.
“Resulta sang gyera sang US and Israel sa Iran, tanan apektado sa pagtaas ka prices. Mas naglalâ ang sitwasyon sang mga mamumugon,” Andon said.
He stressed that transport workers are among the hardest hit, estimating significant daily income losses due to soaring fuel costs.
“Kon naga-consume sang 20 liters ang driver kada adlaw, almost P2,000 dula sa driver nga kuntani dalhon ya pa sa ila pamilya,” Andon stressed.
Despite long-standing demands for a P200 wage increase, Andon criticized the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) for failing to address wage disparities across regions, pointing out that workers in Western Visayas earn far less than those in Metro Manila despite similar living costs.
“So, amon panawagan i-increase sa 1,200 per day. Para maka-cope sa amon nga kinahanglanon sa matag-adlaw,” said Andon.
Elmer Forro, lead convenor of the No To PUV Phaseout Coalition Panay, echoed the urgency, citing broader labor issues such as contractualization and violations of workers’ rights.
“Many workers are subjected to contractual employment, leaving them vulnerable. When the formation of unions is undermined, it exacerbates economic violations, particularly regarding overtime pay. It is indeed overdue for salaries to be raised,” he said.
However, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 6 reported that no wage hike petitions have been submitted to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board./PN
