Bancoro Clarifies Stance on Minimum Wage Increase Amid UPHUP Post

Daphne Santuyo

Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay - First District Rep. Marlo Bancoro clarified his position after the United Private Hospitals Union of the Philippines (UPHUP) posted on social media that he is allegedly against the increase of minimum wage in the provinces.

Bancoro emphasized that he is not against salary increases, but believes that wages should reflect the local cost of living rather than being uniform nationwide.

“What I mean is, I am not against salary increases. But we cannot make wages the same in Manila and in the provinces because the cost of living is different in every area,” Bancoro explained.

He warned that applying the same salary standards nationwide could have unintended consequences on local businesses and employment.

“If we match Manila’s wages here, investors might avoid our provinces, and local business owners might close their businesses. That means people will lose their jobs,” Bancoro said.

Bancoro also gave an example from the education sector. He said, “Take schools, for instance. If salaries increase too much, tuition might rise. If tuition becomes too expensive, students may drop out, and schools could eventually close. This would hurt the very people we want to help.”

The congressman stressed that while uniform wages nationwide may sound appealing, in the long run it could strain local businesses and limit employment opportunities, especially in provinces with lower costs of living.

“We need to balance fair wages with the sustainability of our local economy,” Bancoro concluded.