Context Dispatch

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said efforts to declare the 2025 national budget unconstitutional are part of a broader plan by anti-administration groups to destabilize the government. He expressed confidence that the budget law is solid and will be upheld by the Supreme Court. When asked if the government has a contingency plan in case the Court rules the budget as unconstitutional, Marcos responded: “No. We shut down everything. I guess that’s what they want. They want the government to cease working so matuloy yung kanilang mga destabilization na ginagawa.”

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) lauds the historic approval of the P200 across-the-board daily wage hike by the House Committee on Labor and Employment, marking a crucial step toward the first legislated wage increase in over three decades.  Originally proposed in TUCP Party-list’s House Bill No. 7871 for a P150 daily hike, the approved increase reflects the House’s strong commitment to uplifting workers amid rising living costs.

The House Committee on Labor and Employment has approved a bill mandating a P200 daily across-the-board wage increase for private sector workers, marking a significant step forward in the push for higher wages. 

Majority or 59% of Filipinos are satisfied with the Marcos Jr. Administration, according to results from the latest Social Weather Stations survey. The survey was conducted from December 12 to 18, 2024, using face-to-face interviews with 2,160 respondents nationwide, and has a ±2 margin of error. 

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez affirmed today that the House of Representatives is expediting deliberations on proposed wage hike legislation to address the urgent need for economic relief, while ensuring a balanced approach that considers the welfare of workers and the sustainability of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).