SEN. Bong Go said the Philippines’ new upper-middle-income classification must translate into higher wages and tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Filipinos, pointing to the “contrast and irony” between the country’s economic milestone and the continued struggle of millions of families.
In a Senate manifestation on Aug. 5, Go backed a resolution supporting the Department of Labor and Employment, the National Wages and Productivity Commission, and workers affected by the temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking the P85 daily minimum wage increase in Metro Manila.
“Just last month, the Philippines was officially recognized by the World Bank as an upper-middle-income country. This is a significant milestone that reflects our country’s growing national income,” Go said. “Yet, despite this, more than half of Filipino families, or 52 percent, still consider themselves poor, according to an SWS survey. The contrast and irony remind us that the true measure of progress is whether ordinary Filipinos actually feel the benefits in their daily lives.”
The Philippines entered the World Bank’s upper-middle-income category on July 1, while the March 2026 Social Weather Survey found that 52 percent of Filipino families, or an estimated 14.5 million households, considered themselves poor.
Go said the improved income classification would have little meaning for workers unless it resulted in better pay, more secure employment and greater capacity to meet basic household needs.
He cited the rising cost of food, fuel and other necessities as continuing pressures on minimum-wage earners, including construction workers, factory personnel, cashiers, security guards and janitors.
The P85 wage adjustment under Wage Order NCR-27 was intended to benefit more than 1.1 million minimum-wage workers in Metro Manila.
It was scheduled for implementation in two tranches: P60 effective July 25 and another P25 set for Jan. 20, 2027.
Once fully implemented, the daily minimum wage would reach P780 for non-agricultural workers and P743 for workers classified under the lower-wage category.
However, implementation was halted after a Pasig City Regional Trial Court issued a TRO following a petition challenging the wage order.
The government has said it will defend the wage adjustment in court.
Go urged the court to consider Article 126 of the Labor Code, as amended by Republic Act (RA) 6727, which provides that no preliminary or permanent injunction or TRO may be issued against proceedings before the NWPC or regional wage boards.
He said the suspended P85 increase is still below the nationwide P100 wage hike he has been seeking in Congress.
Go authored Senate Bill (SB) 175, which proposes a P100 across-the-board increase in the daily minimum wage of private-sector workers nationwide in response to inflation and the rising cost of living.
