According to Atty. Sonny Matula, National President of the Federation of Free Workers, while current wages in Metro Manila stand at 755 pesos, salaries are much lower in areas far from the center, such as Agusan del Sur at only 440 to 470 pesos and Sulu at just 386 pesos.
He added that despite having lower wages in the provinces, prices of basic commodities like rice, gasoline, and electricity remain equal to or even more expensive than in the capital.
Therefore, Atty. Matula pointed out that this vast wage gap should be the focus of attention, as it was not addressed in the President’s aforementioned SONA.
