Local labor group, the General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA), yesterday urged the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board-Region VI (RTWPB-6) to expedite the P150 wage hike petition they filed earlier this month.

GAWA Secretary-General Wennie Sancho said the request was made due to the recent price hikes on oil, which he says are “taking a toll to the workers’ pay.”

“The regional wage board should take an immediate action regarding this,” Sancho said.

Aside the request, Sancho also urged local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental to activate price monitoring councils, as he expressed doubt in claims by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) saying there has been no movement in the price of primary commodities despite the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

Sancho questioned DTI on how there has been no movement in the prices when bus and ferry companies hiked fares this month.

“Price monitoring councils should come up with a factual status on the prices,” Sancho pointed out.

He added, LGUs should take action, since “extraordinary times, call for extraordinary measures.”

Meanwhile, Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) President Frank Carbon said, while he is not against the wage increases, his organization will only agree on a proposal if the employer has the capacity to pay for the agreed wage amount.

Earlier, RTWPB-6 Director Johnson Cañete said they are waiting for additional petitions from the labor sector before deliberations could begin.

The petition for an increase, ranging from P130 to P150 more in wages, was made in light of reportedly rising commodity prices./DGB, WDJ