ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio criticized the World Bank’s classification of the Philippines as an “upper-middle-income country,” arguing that it does not reflect the real situation of workers.
He pointed out that in some regions, the minimum daily wage is only ₱510 far below the required living wage of ₱1,312 for a family to live decently.
Tinio stressed that economic growth has largely benefited billionaires and big business owners, while the majority of Filipinos remain poor and hungry.
Because of this, he urged the government to prioritize the passage of House Bill No. 202, or the ₱1,200 Living Wage Bill, as a fair solution to address the urgent needs of workers.
