KILUSANG Mayo Uno-Southern Mindanao Region (KMU-SMR), Bayan Muna Partylist, and several other progressive groups gathered at Freedom Park, Roxas Avenue, Davao City, on May 1, 2025, to commemorate Labor Day and call on the government to raise the national minimum wage for Filipino workers.
Despite the scorching heat, members of these groups pressed for a P1,200 nationwide living wage, citing the increasing difficulty of meeting the daily needs of Filipino families.
Rauf Sissay, representative of Bayan Muna Partylist-Davao and KMU-Southern Mindanao, said the demand stems from the urgent need to support communities grappling with rising market prices and ongoing economic challenges. He emphasized that the wage hike remains a central appeal to the government in response to the current cost of living.
"Ang main na panawagan namo karong adlawa mao ang pagtaas sa sweldo o suholan sa atong mga trabahante, P1,200 living wage nationwide. Gina-recognize namo nga kinahanglan na gyud og alibyo ang mamumuo ug katawhan, labi na sa kamahal sa presyo sa pamaliton ug sa economic challenges (Our main call today is for a wage increase for our workers — a P1,200 living wage nationwide. We recognize that workers and the people urgently need relief, especially with the soaring prices of goods and ongoing economic challenges)," he said.
KMU-SMR Regional Chair Romelito Pablo also criticized the Marcos administration’s P20-per-kilo rice program, saying it is not sustainable and that the government should prioritize support for basic commodities, especially those affecting farmers.
"Atong panawagan na usbon ang suholan, P1,200, tungod kay nakita nato ang epekto sa pagsaka sa mga palitonon sa atoang nasod. Bisan gani ginapanghambog sa atong administration nga aduna nay ₱20 na kilo sa bugas, pero dili kini sustainable. Ang gobyerno dapat unahon ang pagtabang sa basic commodities ug labi na sa atong mag-uuma (Our call is to increase wages to P1,200 because we have seen the effects of rising prices of goods in our country. Even though the administration boasts about P20-per-kilo rice, it is not sustainable. The government should prioritize support for basic commodities, especially for our farmers)," he said.
Meanwhile, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) reported that the 123rd Labor Day celebration was held peacefully with no untoward incidents. Justine Antonio, UM Intern