Kamanggagawa Partylist Representative Elijah “Eli” San Fernando joined the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development today as a resource speaker, voicing strong support for Senate Bills No. 111 and 373 which seek to establish a National Minimum Wage and abolish the decades-old provincial wage rate system.

With Senators Imee Marcos and Robin Padilla championing the same reform and Senator Raffy Tulfo backing the initiative, San Fernando emphasized Kamanggagawa Partylist’s commitment to working with the Senate to achieve wage equality for Filipino workers across all regions.

“Parehong Pagod, Parehong Sahod”

San Fernando criticized the Wage Rationalization Act of 1989 for perpetuating wage inequities despite rising productivity and GDP. He cited glaring disparities between neighboring areas, such as Las Piñas and Bacoor, where a simple bridge separates a ₱695 wage from a ₱560 rate.

“Did the price of goods change when I crossed that bridge?” San Fernando asked. “Did the needs of workers suddenly become less?”

He also highlighted unjust differences in labor costs for identical jobs across regions, particularly in the construction sector. “Is cement heavier in Metro Manila? Are workers here more skilled than those in the provinces?” he said. “Same work, same fatigue—wages should be the same.”

San Fernando rejected the notion that life in the provinces is more affordable. He argued that basic goods are often more expensive due to transportation costs, and that provincial workers face the same daily needs as their urban counterparts.

The representative reiterated that Kamanggagawa Partylist’s House Bill No. 94, filed on the first day of the 20th Congress, mirrors the Senate’s proposed reforms. The bill outlines a five-year transition to unify wage rates nationwide, while providing support mechanisms for businesses.

San Fernando closed his remarks with a call for solidarity between the House and Senate. “Workers are not just costs in accounting books—they are partners in development,” he said. “Kamanggagawa Partylist will continue to fight for a National Minimum Wage, whether in the House or the Senate.”

Outside the hearing, San Fernando hailed the day’s proceedings as a powerful show of unity. “Both chambers are ready to volt in behind one fight: to abolish the provincial wage rate system and secure just and equal pay for all workers.”