By CESAR JOLITO III

The General Alliance of Workers Association (GAWA) is urging the government to provide an Emergency Relief Allowance (ERA) to workers in Western Visayas, citing the region’s declining purchasing power amid soaring inflation and the economic fallout from the ongoing war in the Middle East.

In a statement, GAWA Secretary General Wennie Sancho highlighted that the current Consumer Price Index of 0.762 percent as of February 2026 has significantly eroded the real value of the daily minimum wage of P550 for commercial and industrial workers.

In practical terms, workers are losing around P131 per day, translating to a monthly loss of approximately P3,400.

A typical worker earning P14,300 per month now sees this reduced to just P10,900 in real purchasing power.

“This alarming decline in workers’ purchasing power demands urgent attention,” Sancho said.

“Workers are struggling to make ends meet, and it’s high time for the government to provide relief,” he added.

GAWA is calling on the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in the region to approve “moto proprio,” an ERA of P200 per day to help restore lost purchasing power and ease the financial burden on workers and their families.

The association represents thousands of workers across Western Visayas and has consistently advocated for policies that safeguard workers’ welfare.

Sancho emphasized that the request is not charity but a “just and fair measure” to help workers cope with the rising cost of living.

GAWA urges government authorities to act immediately to provide economic relief that can ensure workers afford basic necessities, while mitigating the broader impact of inflation on households./CJ, WDJ