'P22 COLA better than nothing'

MANILA, Philippines -  Malacañang yesterday sought to appease minimum wage workers in Metro Manila over the measly P22 increase in cost of living allowance (COLA) that they will be getting, saying it is better than nothing.

Secretary Ricky Carandang of the Presidential Communications Office for Strategic Planning and Development said the government understands the plight of workers but noted that Malacañang is happy because workers will at least “get something.”

He added that the decision was arrived at after consultations with all stakeholders.

Carandang told Palace reporters in an informal interview at the press working area Tuesday afternoon that the sentiments of labor groups that the P22 COLA is not enough was expected, but there is a process and a decision has to be made even though labor is not always happy with any increase in the same way that employers deem such adjustment as too high.

“The job of the wage boards is to try to balance the competing interests of labor and management; to try to come up with a solution that while nobody is completely happy, at least all sides can live with it,” he said.