Malacañang on Monday said the government will defend the implementation of the P85 daily minimum wage increase in the National Capital Region (NCR) after a Pasig City court temporarily halted its enforcement, reaffirming President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s commitment to ensuring fair and just wages for Filipino workers.

The Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) suspending the implementation of the P85 daily wage increase, which was scheduled to take effect on July 25.

The petition questioned NCR Wage Order No. 27, issued on June 23, arguing that the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) failed to sufficiently consider employers’ capacity to pay before approving the increase.

“Pero sa ngayon ay ipinaglalaban ang stance ng ating pamahalaan patungkol sa wage order para sa ating mga kababayan sa NCR,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a Palace press briefing.

Castro said the issue should have been elevated to or appealed before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board rather than brought directly to court.

She also assured the public that the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) is prepared to defend the wage order, which seeks to provide higher pay for workers in the NCR.

Asked whether President Marcos would support proposals in Congress for a legislated wage hike, Castro said the President has consistently advocated for fair compensation for Filipino workers.

“Ang pagbibigay naman ng tamang wage o suweldo sa ating mga manggagawa, ito naman ay nais ng Pangulo,” she said.

“Kaya hangga’t wala pang nagagawang batas patungkol dito, tuluy-tuloy ang pagtatrabaho ng pamahalaan at ng Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board para matugunan ang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” Castro added. Presidential News Desk