Local labor advocate Wennie Sancho said he is seeking higher wages for workers due to expected increases on the price of oil products and with transport groups demanding increases to fares following the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

Sancho said he plans to file a petition before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB), claiming the current P323.50 minimum wage is insufficient.

He reiterated, the new tax law will largely erode the purchasing power of workers.

The labor leader also said sugar workers would bear the brunt of the TRAIN Law, claiming sugar prices are too volatile, which may eventually lead to the demise of sugar planters.

Meanwhile, the Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Ceneco) said consumer power bills could rise by 7¢ per kilowatt-hour (kWh). The December 2017 rate was P10.0318/kWh./DGB, WDJ