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Monday, April 14, 2008
Senator pushes for wage hike of P60-P70
MANILA -- To cope with the increases in prices of commodities such as rice and fuel, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri is proposing an across-the-board daily wage increase of P60 to P70.
Zubiri wants the salary increase legislated by district. He said he would file a Senate bill for the pay hike soon.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
Zubiri, who was in Cebu Sunday, also urged the government and the public to start using alternative fuel without compromising food security.
He cited Thailand as "perfect" example, saying the country has both biofuel and food production for its people.
"If Thailand can do it, why can't we? If done properly, biofuels and food security can co-exist as long as we will not enter into agricultural areas. We can plant malunggay and jatropha in barren idle lands and in mountainous lands where we can't plant palay and other food crops," he said.
Biofuels, considered as cleaner alternative to fossil fuels, are made from such sources as sugarcane, coconut and jatropha.
After the 20th awarding rites of Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. Academic Excellence at White Gold House Sunday, Zubiri met with the media and commented on the increase of prices of petroleum products.
Oil prices have increased for the seventh time this year, with the most recent hike amounting to P0.50 per liter.
"Actually, we can't do anything with price increase of fuel. It's a global phenomenon. That is why we should seek alternatives. Otherwise, we can't do anything. Two years ago, when I estimated the fuel to rise to P50 per liter, many laughed at me and didn't believe me. Now, premium gasoline has reached P50 already," he said.
The senator said he is worried that by 2009, fuel prices will reach P70 per liter. He reiterated his proposal for replacements such as ethanol and biodiesel, "which may cost only P30-P40 per liter."
He also said the public should learn to adjust to the possibility of using solar-powered cars, bicycles, and motorcycles and mass transport systems that use alternative fuel.
"If we won't prepare now, when it is still early, we might be caught by surprise, like in the food crisis. By 2009 or 2010, we might have a fuel crisis, disabling us from using our cars to transport goods from farm to market while jeepney fares keep increasing until there is no one to be blamed but us," he said.
Zubiri also criticized the move by some schools to increase tuition.
"High prices of food, high prices of fuel, add them with high tuition increase, I think foul na kaayo na. I think we should put pressure not to increase tuition," he said.
Zubiri said he does not agree with increasing jeepney fares to cope with the increased fuel prices. While he asked the government to continue the rice subsidy to the people, Zubiri said he believes that a wage hike would compensate for all the increases.
"P60 to P70 is something the more moderate labor groups such as Trade Union Congress Party are asking for because employers will not agree to P125 across-the-board," he said.
"I think the employers would understand the needs of our employees because prices of commodities-vegetable, rice, fuel, energy-increased. It's about time that salaries of the people should also increase. It would be impossible not to do so because the salary is the only thing that is stagnant in the past few years," he said.
House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles earlier urged regional tripartite boards to come up with calibrated rates to enable employees and employers to cope with the existing economic condition.
A wage increase, Nograles said, is acceptable to both the employees and their employers is very important amid the spiraling food and fuel prices causing tremendous pressure to every Filipino's ability to cope up with their day-to-day needs.
He pointed out, however, that any wage hike should also give prime consideration on the survivability of employers, as it will be a bigger problem if they close shops because they can no longer pay their employees.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), according to the group's assistant secretary general Alex Aguilar, could seek an increase of as much as P80 in daily wage.
Workers' groups had been clamoring for a wage increase due to the rising costs of living that include price increases in fuel and food items.
Prices of bread and processed meat are also due to go up before the end of April. (Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (April 14, 2008 issue)
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