Romualdez Noncommittal on P200 Wage Hike Passage Before Congress Ends

House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday remained noncommittal about the chances of passing the proposed ₱200 legislated wage hike for private sector workers before the 19th Congress adjourns on June 13.

Asked by reporters if the bill would pass in time, Romualdez simply responded, “We’ll see,” emphasizing that the legislative process would determine the outcome.

The House version proposes a ₱200 increase—double the ₱100 wage hike recently approved by the Senate. However, the House bill is still pending beyond the committee level, meaning further debates and approvals are needed.

If both chambers pass differing versions, a Bicameral Conference Committee will need to reconcile them before the measure can be sent to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for signing into law. If this doesn’t happen by June 13, the bill will have to be refiled in the next Congress, which begins July 28.

In a separate statement, the National Wage Coalition—composed of groups like BMP, KMU, NAGKAISA!, and TUCP—urged the House to pass the bill swiftly. They stressed the wage hike is a social, economic, and moral necessity for millions of unorganized and underpaid workers.

The coalition argued that the increase is essential for addressing widespread poverty, hunger, and the inability of many families to meet basic needs such as education, healthcare, and food.