Billionaire Pacquiao backs P125 wage hike

World boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquaio on Tuesday expressed support for a bill seeking to increase the wage rates of workers in the private sector by P125. Pacquiao, the country’s richest and lone billionaire congressman, said he signed as co-author of House Bill 375 or the measure calling for a legislated P125 wage hike because he understands the plight of ordinary workers. "Ako ay naging ordinaryong manggagawa… Napag-iwanan na ng makalumang panahon ang lebel ng pasahod sa mga manggagawa," he said at a press briefing Tuesday at the Kilusang Mayo Uno headquarters in Quezon City. Pacquaio said that before he became one of the world’s highest paid athletes, he was once a construction worker, a utility boy, a vendor and a janitor. He added that he thinks the P125 across-the-board wage hike will not hurt private businesses in the country. "Hindi naman kalabisan ang hinihingi. Parehas lang, kayang-kaya ng kapitalista… Kailangan ipatupad at maipasa na ang P125," he said. Business groups, such as the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, have opposed the proposed P125 legislated wage hike, saying it will cause unemployment and stunt economic growth. Big boost Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, author of HB 275, welcomed Pacquiao’s support, describing it as a "big boost to the fight for a substantial wage increase." "We expect him to work with us for the passage of HB 375. Granting a significant, legislated wage increase is a concrete step to uplift the situation and condition of ordinary wage and salary earners," he said. Mariano, the poorest House member, filed HB 375 in July last year to demand a P125 daily across-the-board wage hike for workers in the private sector. The measure is currently pending before the House committee on labor and employment. — RSJ, GMA News