By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

“My great panacea for making society at once better and more enjoyable would be to cultivate greater sincerity.” — Frances Power Cobbe

The countdown to Christmas day is toward its end. In Philippine congress, it is the most productive season before the elections for the coming year. Because after the New Year’s day, the congressmen and lawmakers seeking reelection just like any other candidate will be busy with the national and local campaigns.

According to the Social Weather Station survey for the third quarter of this year, the rate of hunger in the Philippines increased to 21 percent. And most of the Filipinos affected are the workers and their families. The International Labor organization’s Global Wage Report 2012/13 cites that the wage of the Filipino workers are much smaller compared to that of other countries. It was also indicated that one third of the Filipino workers live below the $2-a-day poverty line of the world.

More than a decade ago, the workers hoped that their wages will be raised to true living standards through the demand for a P125 across the board nationwide wage increase. It was proposed in congress by then Bayan Muna Representative and workers’ hero Crispin Beltran. For more than a decade the wage hike bill lay pending and bypassed in a house full of landlords and large compradors reflecting the need for more sincere lawmakers who really care for the working class. It was not even prioritized by Presidents Erap, GMA and now Pnoy who preferred to sign laws that inflict more suffering on the people.

Even the past chairpersons and the present one of the House Committee on Labor and Employment refused to speed up the passage of P125 wage hike bill.

This coming Christmas, the congressmen and lawmakers of the Philippines can give the impoverished Filipino workers a worthy gift, that is the approval of the P125 wage increase. They should not wait for the campaign period so that they can again promise the Filipinos especially the workers that. Sincerity will not be visible in election campaigns. A noble action is to help the Filipinos celebrate the holidays with a livable wage. # nordis.net