Senators Defend Senate Role in Minimum Wage Hike Debate
Senators strongly pushed back against accusations from the House of Representatives spokesperson Princess Abante, who claimed the Senate “killed” the proposed P200 daily minimum wage hike. Instead, the Senate blamed the lower chamber’s delays and last-minute maneuvers for dooming the measure.
Senator Joel Villanueva, chair of the Senate Committee on Labor and Employment, sharply criticized the House for dragging its feet. “The House of Representatives has clearly set the stage to ensure the wage hike bill’s failure. They never had any intention of passing this measure in the first place,” Villanueva said in a statement. He added, “It was dead on arrival because of the intransigence of some to have a measure that is more realistic and more acceptable to all stakeholders.”
The Senate had approved Senate Bill No. 2534 proposing a P100 wage increase as early as February 19, 2024, and immediately sought the House’s adoption. However, the House passed its version, House Bill No. 11376, which sought a P200 hike, more than a year later on June 4, 2025—just days before the 19th Congress was set to adjourn.
Last-Minute House Actions Spark Senate Frustration
According to Villanueva, what the Senate received on June 5 was only a list of House conferees, not the approved bill itself. The third reading copy of the House bill was officially transmitted just 24 hours before the last session day. Given the limited time, the Senate formally appealed to the House to adopt the Senate version.
On June 11, the final session day, Villanueva noted that a letter from House panel chairman Rep. Fidel Nograles rejecting the Senate’s proposal surfaced on social media and was sent to his office via email late at night. “We could have had a landmark law if only realism and sincerity ruled over false pretenses,” Villanueva lamented.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero called the situation “a classic case of passing the buck.” He explained that the House did not act on the Senate bill until hours before adjournment, leaving no time for proper discussion or the formation of a bicameral conference committee.
“Bakit ba kung kailan huli biglang sasabihin dine-delay namin at wala kaming oras para i-adopt ‘yung kapapadala lang nila. Kung pinadala nila bago kami mag-adjourn noon pa, e ‘di mas madaling pag-usapan ‘yun at mapag-aralan,” Escudero said, emphasizing the House’s late submission made it impossible to deliberate.
Senate Urges House to Adopt P100 Hike Version
Escudero explained that if the House had simply adopted the Senate’s version during plenary, a bicameral conference would not have been necessary, and the bill could have been enrolled for the President’s signature immediately. He also pointed out the absence of data from the House supporting the economic viability of the P200 increase and its impact on businesses.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada echoed Villanueva’s sentiments, calling the House spokesperson’s accusations “baseless.” He criticized the House for taking over a year to pass their version and then rushing to bicam talks just before adjournment.
“Unang-una, yung spokesperson ng House, si Princess Abante, she should do a lot of research first before opening her mouth,” Estrada said. He added that both he and Villanueva were busy presiding over their Commission on Appointments committees during the final sessions.
Estrada recalled that House Deputy Speaker and TUCP Party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza asked him to form a bicameral conference committee, but Estrada suggested simply adopting the Senate version to expedite the process. “They had one more session, one more day before adjourning sine die. But they did not do anything. So tapos sasabihin nung spokesperson ng House of Representatives that we killed the legislated wage hike. That is not true. Sinungaling yan,” he stated firmly.
Economic Concerns and Future Plans
Estrada warned that adopting the P200 hike would have economic repercussions, especially for small and medium enterprises. “Mga nagpapapogi lang sila. Tapos isisi nila yung Senado. That’s not right,” he added.
Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, the principal author of the Senate bill, expressed deep disappointment over the lost opportunity. “This measure, which would have granted a P100 daily minimum wage increase, could have been one of the most meaningful legacies we leave behind, an act of justice and compassion for the backbone of our economy,” he said.
Zubiri noted conflicting accounts of what went wrong and said the bicameral panel chairs owe the Filipino people an explanation. He also shared that House members unofficially expressed support but no official bicameral conference happened to reconcile differences.
After initially being excluded from the bicam panel, Zubiri asserted his inclusion and pledged to refile the bill in the next Congress. “They [workers] deserve more, and it is our duty to deliver what is just,” he affirmed.
During a plenary session, Zubiri highlighted the Senate’s concern that the P200 hike is unaffordable for businesses. “We would like to inform our workers that the Senate did its best to fight for the rights and fiscal incentive of having another 100 pesos a day increase. I am disheartened that they (House members) don’t want to negotiate with us. Obviously, if we adopt the 200-peso minimum wage bill mabi-veto ni Presidente ‘yan and if that will be vetoed, you torpedo the measure and it looks bad on everyone,” he explained.
Senators maintained that the P100 increase was a realistic and responsible compromise considering current economic conditions, particularly for small and medium enterprises. If passed, it would have marked the first legislated wage hike in 36 years since 1989.
For more news and updates on minimum wage hike debates, visit Filipinokami.com.