MANILA, Philippines – Sa pagtatapos ng sesyon ng Kongreso ngayong araw, Hunyo 11, umapela ang Kamara sa Senado na agad nang magpulong sa Bicameral Conference Committee(Bicam) upang maipasa ang legislated wage hike bill.
Sa liham na ipinadala ni House Committee on Labor and Employment Chairman Rep. Fidel Nograles kay Senate Committee on Labor Chair Sen. Joel Villanueva, tinukoy nito ang “urgency” sa pagpasa ng nasabing panukala para na rin sa kapakanan ng milyon milyong manggagawang Pinoy.
“The House of Representatives acted swiftly and decisively. We passed our version of the bill on third reading, submitted the names of our conferees in advance, and have since stood ready to enter into bicameral discussions with our Senate counterparts,” pahayag ni Nograles.
Sinabi ni Nograles na kung hindi maaprubahan sa Bicam ang legislated wage hike bill ay malaking kasayangan ito, aniya, nais ng Kamara na idaan sa Bicam process ang panukala upang maipaglaban ang P200 na taas sahod na inaprubahan ng Kamara. Sa halip na tanggapin na lamang ang bersyon ng Senado.
Sa senate version ng panukala ay P100 ang taas sahod ang nais nito.
“That is not how co-equal chambers of Congress are expected to legislate. We cannot and should not be forced into a corner where our only option is to rubber-stamp a version that does not reflect the result of honest dialogue.This bill deserves better. The Filipino people deserve better,” ani Nograles.
Iginiit pa ni Nograles na kung hindi maipapasa sa 19th Congress ang legislated wage hike ay malinaw na hindi ito kapabayaan sa panig ng Kamara.
“Let history show that we in the House did everything within our power to pass this important piece of legislation. Should it fail to reach the President’s desk before adjournment, the responsibility will be clear to the public,” pagtatapos pa ni Nograles. Gail Mendoza
