I suggest to the economic managers of the administration a doable package of wage subsidies and non-cash grants to all Filipino workers in the formal and informal economy.
First is a quarterly rice grant of 25 kilos for every worker in a household. This shall come from the warehouses of the National Food Authority on top of their mandated buffer stock.
Second is a 1000-peso monthly wage subsidy for every Filipino earning less than take home pay of 300 pesos per day.
Third is a 100-percent national government-subsidized 14th month pay for every minimum wage worker in the private and informal sectors and for government workers Salary Grade 11 down to Salary Grade 1.
These three items need not come to happen all at once, but the rice grants can start this year and can be done by executive order citing the safety net provisions of the TRAIN Law and the Rice Tariffication Law.
The 1000-peso monthly wage subsidy for those earning less than 300 pesos a day can happen in January 2022 as part of that year’s budget.
The 100-percent national government-subsidized 14th month pay for minimum wage earners and low-ranking government personnel can be done starting January 2023 in the 2023 GAA.
Phasing in the implementation makes it doable national budget-wise.
REP. FREDERICK W. SIAO
Lone District of Iligan City