Leftist solons’ first bill: P125 wage hike

The three representatives of the leftist party-list group Bayan Muna proposed yesterday that the minimum daily wage be increased by P125.

The proposal is contained in the first bill filed by Representatives Satur Ocampo, Crispin Beltran and Liza Maza, the first batch of party-list winners proclaimed by the Commission on Elections.

The three, who took their oath as Congresss members before Comelec Chairman Alfredo Benipayo last week, are also batting for a P3,000 across-the-board salary increase for workers receiving more than the minimum wage.

The three told a news conference that the pay adjustment would enable employees to cope with the rising cost of living.

They also vowed to convince their colleagues to cut the P204.5 billion debt service allocation in the proposed P781 billion 2002 budget.

They said if the government can afford to, it should declare a debt payment moratorium and instead use the money for expenses that could stimulate economic growth.

"There are more pressing concerns the national government should address and provide funds for, such as education, housing, health, and other social services," they said.

They added that it is "criminal and immoral" for the administration to allocate almost a third of the national budget for debt payments while it lacks money for infrastructure and social services.

Ocampo, Beltran and Maza will soon receive what could be the biggest paycheck of their lives. Although their official salary is only P35,000 a month, they are entitled to the other allocations that congressmen representing districts regularly get.

All told, a House member receives about a P250,000 a month, including basic pay.