‘Cost of living outside Metro Manila more expensive’

MANILA, Philippines — Contrary to popular belief, the cost of living in the so-called Mega Manila or the provinces just outside Metro Manila is more costly than in the country’s capital, according to a congressman.

Citing records from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Rep. Ramon Revilla III said the annual per capita poverty threshold in 2023 showed that Metro Manila’s neighboring provinces all reported “higher poverty thresholds.”

Revilla chairs the committee on labor and employment of the House of Representatives.

Data showed that annual per capita poverty threshold in Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal was higher than the National Capital Region (NCR), as Bulacan’s reached P39,202, Cavite P39,165, Laguna P38,492, Rizal P39,055 while Metro Manila’s was pegged at P37,711.

According to Revilla, this simply meant “that the cost of basic survival is actually more expensive outside the capital” even if the NCR had the highest daily minimum wage pegged at P695. 

“These translate to monthly survival thresholds for a family of four ranging from P12,831 to P13,131 – all higher than NCR’s P12,570.31,” Revilla said.

“Many believe that Metro Manila has the highest cost in terms of living, but official PSA data show that it is more expensive to live in Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal more than in NCR. This means even if wages are higher here, workers outside of the NCR actually suffer more,” he pointed out.

The hearing tackled critical measures aimed at improving wage fairness and employment access, including House Resolution 232, authored by Revilla, urging the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards to immediately act on all pending wage hike petitions per region.

“Sometimes, only a traffic light or bridge makes the difference in the border of Metro Manila, Cavite or Bulacan, but the minimum wage are different. That doesn’t make sense. You have two people doing the same work, spending on the same goods, but receiving different pay just because of geography,” he said.

The committee also deliberated on a range of bills that aim to improve job matching and strengthen labor protections, including the creation of barangay and national employment registries, and expanded protections against workplace discrimination.

Revilla explained that rising prices of food, housing and transport in these fast-urbanizing areas are no longer being offset by wage increases, leaving many families earning below what is needed for basic survival.