Lawmaker rejects upper-middle income status

A LAWMAKER on Thursday questioned the World Bank’s reclassification of the Philippines as an upper-middle income country, asserting that it fails to reflect the true situation of workers who continue to receive low wages.

In a statement, Party-list Rep. Antonio L. Tinio said that the classification is meaningless as long as workers’ earnings remain below the estimated living wage.

“The average worker earns only P510 a day — less than half of the P1,312 living wage requirement,” Mr. Tinio said in Filipino.

He said that although the reclassification is based on the rise in the country’s gross national income per capita, it does not reflect how income is distributed among Filipinos.

“Where did this wealth go? Into the pockets of capitalists and the corrupt?” the lawmaker asked in Filipino, asserting that the wages of many workers remain insufficient despite the economic growth seen in recent years.

Mr. Tinio also noted that even if the P85 wage increase in the National Capital Region is implemented, it remains far from the amount needed to cover a family’s daily expenses.

He stated that the situation cannot be considered broad-based progress if workers do not feel the benefits of economic growth.

At the same time, the lawmaker renewed the push for the passage of House Bill No. 202, a measure proposing a P1,200 living wage.

“Upper-middle income’ status is meaningless if the ordinary Filipino cannot afford food and clothing,” Mr. Tinio said in Filipino. “We need genuine economic development — one where all workers earn a living wage and have access to basic services.” — Pexcel John Bacon