MANILA— Workers’ groups in CALABARZON on Friday criticized the region’s P45 wage increase, saying it fell short of their demand for higher pay amid rising prices and calling for a nationwide living wage of P1,200.

Members of the Workers’ Initiative for Wage Increase-Southern Tagalog (WIN4WIN-ST), composed of workers’ unions, associations and federations, staged a protest outside the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board IV-A office to condemn the increase.

The alliance had filed a petition on April 27 seeking a wage hike of P600 to P900 in the region.

WIN4WIN-ST said workers continued to struggle with soaring prices and criticized the government’s failure to control oil prices and suspend value-added tax and excise taxes amid the wars involving the United States and Israel in West Asia.

“Matagal nang nagtitiis ang mga manggagawa ng CALABARZON sa napakababang sahod—nagtitipid, isinasangla ang ATM, nagkakasakit, at nagugutom sa kabila ng napakahalagang ambag sa ekonomya ng bansa. Ngayon, nilimusan tayo ng ₱45 na hindi man lang sapat para makabili ng isang kilong bigas o makapagpakarga ng kahit isang litro ng gasolina.”

The group also criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s remarks on the anticipated Super El Niño, particularly his statement, “Bumili na kayo ng balde para ‘pag umulan, makolekta na ninyo lahat,” saying the government should instead guarantee concrete assistance to affected communities.

WIN4WIN-ST pointed to the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027, arguing that the government had no excuse for shifting the burden of the crisis onto the public.

“Imbes na ibuhos ang pondo sa serbisyo publiko at kongkretong aksyon upang mapakinabangan ng milyun-milyong manggagawa at mamamayan sa gitna ng isa na namang krisis, kickback na naman ang nasa utak ng gobyernong korap!” said Julius Carandang, the alliance’s convener.

The alliance urged workers to hold the Regional Wage Board, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Marcos administration accountable, accusing them of colluding with bureaucrat capitalists and imperialists to further exploit workers.

It also reiterated its call for living wages, security of tenure, safe working conditions and freedom of association.