P1,224 Per Day: A Reality or a Dream for Filipino Workers?

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The estimated family living wage of P1,224 per day for a family of five, as calculated by the IBON Foundation, seems almost impossible to achieve for ordinary workers. With the current minimum wage at P465, the gap between the average wage and the amount needed for a decent life is staggering. Unfortunately, in a country plagued by corruption and low regard for fair wages, this goal feels like a distant dream.

Poverty as a Political Strategy?

Some analysts argue that poverty is deliberately maintained by political dynasties to ensure their survival. By keeping the population impoverished, politicians can make government aid seem like a gift that earns the gratitude—and votes—of the masses. Another observation suggests that politicians prefer to keep people uneducated, as ignorance prevents critical thinking, making it easier to manipulate the public.

Government Officials’ Salaries vs. Workers’ Wages

Government officials, from the lowest to the highest positions, enjoy significant salaries and benefits:

In stark contrast, ordinary workers take home as little as P122.24 per day after deductions for SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG contributions. This disparity highlights the imbalance in a system where public service should be a duty, not a pathway to wealth.

Raising Wages: A Solution or Another Problem?

Many argue that increasing wages alone won’t solve the problem if prices for goods, fuel, and other essentials also rise simultaneously. Instead of focusing solely on wage hikes, other solutions could include:

Lowering Fuel and Commodity Prices

Reducing fuel prices would decrease transportation and production costs, making goods more affordable.

Eliminating the Provincial Wage Rate

Jobs in the provinces and Metro Manila share the same level of difficulty. Equalizing wages across regions would help bridge the income gap.

The Root Cause: Corruption

A significant portion of the issue stems from the entrenched corruption in the government. For many officials, salaries are secondary to the substantial kickbacks they earn from public projects. This is not merely a problem of unequal wealth distribution but a systematic exploitation of public funds.

The Future of Filipino Workers

The issue of wages and the ability to live decently goes beyond money. It is a matter of justice, opportunity, and equal rights for all Filipinos. To achieve real change, we must start with:

Holding corrupt officials accountable.

Improving education to develop critical thinking among the population.

Uniting to dismantle systemic corruption and poor governance.

How long will we accept that P1,224 per day is an unattainable dream? The answer lies in our collective will to demand change.

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