Former Bayan Muna Congressman Neri Colmenares today criticized the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) program as a mere “band-aid solution” that fails to address the fundamental problem of inadequate wages among Filipino workers.
“The P26.159 billion allocated for AKAP in the 2024 budget would be better spent on implementing substantial wage increases for both public and private sector workers. What our people need is not temporary ayuda but a living wage that can sustain their families,” Colmenares stated.
“Ang AKAP ay pansamantalang solusyon lamang na malamang ay gagamitin pa para sa pamumulitika. Sa halip na magbigay ng P3,000 hanggang P5,000 na one-time ayuda, dapat ay itaas ang sahod ng mga manggagawa sa nakabubuhay na antas na P1,200 kada araw at hindi lang nakaasa sa ayuda,” Colmenares emphasized.
The Bayan Muna nominee pointed out that the current minimum wage in NCR of P645 and the meager increases under SSL VI for government employees fall drastically short of the estimated living wage needed by Filipino families.
“Hindi makatarungan na habang tumataas ang presyo ng mga bilihin at serbisyo, napakaliit ng itinaas ng sahod ng mga manggagawa. Sa SG1 employee, P17.67 lang ang dagdag sa pang-araw-araw na gastusin ng pamilya. Paano ito makakasapat?” Colmenares asked.
“We demand that instead of temporary dole-outs, the government should legislate substantial wage increases and implement genuine economic reforms that will benefit workers and their families,” he concluded.###
