PhilExport and ECOP president Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr. (Courtesy: PhilExport Facebook)
A call to stop legislated wage hikes is among the key items the private sector wants President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to address in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) this month.
Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PhilExport) and Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) president Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr. said many business groups are hoping the President will clearly state in his address that he does not support additional legislated wage increases.
The SONA, set for July 28, serves as the President’s annual report to the nation and a platform to outline legislative priorities.
“We want to hear the President reiterate that the regional wage boards have already been convened and that wage increases are being rolled out. That should put a stop to efforts to refile wage hike bills, which we believe will only be vetoed by the President,” Ortiz-Luis said.
He was referring to the recently approved P50 daily minimum wage increase in Metro Manila, which takes effect July 18, exactly a year after the previous hike.
Ortiz-Luis’s remarks come as several senators have refiled proposals for legislated wage hikes in the 20th Congress, similar to earlier bills seeking P200 and P100 increases that failed to pass in the 19th Congress.
PhilExport is also pushing for a number of priority bills it hopes will receive presidential backing.
At the top of its list is the proposed amendment to the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The bill seeks to extend the mandatory credit allocation for MSMEs by banks and remove the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’s regulatory cover over the Small Business Corporation (SB Corp.), enabling the agency to grant more development loans.
Ortiz-Luis stressed that Filipino MSMEs are the most “underbanked” in Southeast Asia.
PhilExport is also advocating for the passage of the Customs Amnesty Bill, which aims to raise revenues through voluntary disclosure, clear the Bureau of Customs’ backlog of liquidation accounts, and shield importers from alleged harassment related to pending transactions.
Other measures supported by the group include the International Maritime Trade Competitiveness Act, CAAP Charter Amendment, National Quality Infrastructure Act, Konektadong Pinoy Bill, and the Philippine Ports Act.
