Senator Imee Marcos has pledged to push for a uniform national minimum wage if re-elected in the 2025 midterm elections, arguing that the current wage gap between Metro Manila and the provinces is unjust.
“Yung una kong legislation yung talagang magkaroon ng iisang pantay-pantay na minimum wage kasi hindi ako naniniwala na malaki ang pagitan ng gastos sa probinsya at saka sa syudad,” Marcos said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview on Saturday.
She pointed out that the daily wage difference now exceeds P200, with Metro Manila workers earning P640 while those in the provinces receive only P440. While she acknowledged that factors like rent and traffic contribute to higher expenses in the capital, she argued that provincial costs, such as food and transport, can be just as steep.
Marcos also proposed a universal wage for the poor, suggesting that instead of multiple government aid programs, financial assistance should be streamlined to directly benefit those below the poverty line.
“Mas maigi kung ibigay na lang ang ayuda sa talagang nangangailangan… Pwede ba ilista na lang mga pinakamahihirap sa atin at magkaroon ng pangkalahatang sahod sa mahihirap yung universal wage,” she said.
On healthcare, the senator is advocating for the establishment of regional lung and kidney centers, reducing the need for patients to travel to Manila for specialized treatment.
