Manila: Senator Joel Villanueva on Wednesday appealed to the House of Representatives to adopt the Senate's version of the wage hike bill which proposes a PHP100 increase in the daily minimum wage.

According to Philippines News Agency, Villanueva has formally communicated with the chairperson of the House Committee on Labor, requesting support for the Senate's measure to avoid the need for a bicameral conference committee. He mentioned having discussions with Senate President Francis Escudero and House conferees regarding the matter.

Villanueva reported receiving positive feedback from a House conferee who showed openness to adopting the Senate version. He also highlighted a letter from the National Wage Coalition urging both legislative chambers to back the Senate proposal for the benefit of workers.

Despite this, Villanueva acknowledged the circulation of an unconfirmed draft letter online suggesting the House's intention to push for its version of the bill, advocating a PHP200 wage hike. He noted that this draft letter is not official.

Villanueva warned that if the House insisted on a PHP200 increase, it would necessitate a bicameral conference, potentially hindering the bill's passage. He emphasized the urgency, stating that time constraints could jeopardize the measure's success.

The senator expressed optimism that the House would approve the Senate's version before the session concludes, marking it as a significant win for Filipino laborers as the 19th Congress nears its end.