Marcos Faces Post-SONA Test Amidst Wage Freeze and Debt Concerns

By Erika Mae P. Sinaking, Reporter PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. faces a tougher task sustaining public support for his reform agenda after the suspension of a wage increase in Metro Manila, a record national debt, and the bail grant to a former senator accused in a flood control graft case clouded the momentum from his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), analysts said. The developments came days after Mr. Marcos outlined plans to boost anti-corruption efforts, lower electricity costs and provide tax relief for middle-income earners and businesses. “These issues need not derail the administration’s agenda, but they do place greater pressure on the government to demonstrate consistency between its commitments and its actions,” Gary G. Ador Dionisio, dean of the School of Diplomacy and Governance at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, said in a Facebook Messenger chat. “If it responds decisively with concrete reforms, transparent governance and measurable improvements in people’s lives, it can reinforce the momentum generated by the SONA. If not, public expectations may gradually give way to skepticism,” he added. Arjan P. Aguirre, a political science assistant professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, said the administration should focus on the immediate needs of vulnerable sectors. “I hope the Philippine government will prioritize issues that have a direct and immediate impact on the public’s welfare, especially on vulnerable sectors,” he said via Messenger. He said the government should prioritize mitigating the impact of low wages following the suspension of the wage hike while pursuing fiscally responsible measures to reduce electricity costs. The Bureau of the Treasury reported last week that the National Government’s outstanding debt reached a record P19.07 trillion at end-June, exceeding its full-year target of P19.06 trillion after domestic and foreign borrowings rose sharply. Antonio A. Ligon, a law and business professor at De La Salle University, said ordinary Filipinos were more concerned about the affordability of necessities than the administration’s reported accomplishments. “The ordinary Filipino wants to really feel daily comforts like affordability of basic necessities,” he said via Viber. “They cannot just rely on dole outs.” The Sandiganbayan Third Division also granted former Senator Ramon “Bong” B. Revilla, Jr.’s bail in a malversation case involving an alleged P92.8-million “ghost” flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan after ruling prosecutors failed to establish that evidence of guilt was strong. Mr. Revilla has denied any involvement in the irregularities. Mr. Dionisio said the ruling, while a judicial matter, “may reinforce public perceptions that accountability remains uneven, particularly after the President’s strong commitment to fighting corruption in his SONA.” Mr. Ligon said such legal developments could further weaken public trust in the administration’s commitment to prosecuting corrupt officials. WAGE HIKE SUSPENSION Analysts said the temporary suspension of an P85 daily minimum wage increase in Metro Manila has intensified concerns about the government’s ability to provide immediate relief to workers grappling with high living costs. The Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 152 issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on Wage Order No. NCR-27, which would have increased the daily minimum wage to P780 from P695 in two stages — P60 effective July 25 and another P25 on Jan. 20, 2027. The Department of Labor and Employment and the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-National Capital Region are coordinating with the Office of the Solicitor General ahead of a hearing set for Aug. 3. Eleven labor groups have asked the Pasig court to let them intervene in the case and immediately lift the restraining order, arguing that workers directly affected by the suspension should be heard before the court rules on the validity of the wage increase. In an urgent motion, a copy of which was obtained by BusinessWorld, the groups said the increase remained below a living wage and accused the court order of depriving workers of much-needed income. “The P85 wage hike to the P695 daily wage was still far from a living wage,” the groups said. “Yet before workers could even take it home, it appears someone snatched it by judicial order. A street snatcher steals once; if the TRO is not lifted today, this legal snatching will happen every single day — P85 taken from every affected minimum-wage earner.” The groups also questioned the court’s authority, citing Article 126 of the Labor Code, which bars courts from issuing injunctions or temporary restraining orders against proceedings before the National Wages and Productivity Commission or regional wage boards. They also argued that the petitioners had bypassed the required administrative process. Information Source: BusinessWorld Nation