Labor slams P12 wage hike
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Management groups in Negros Occidental yesterday called the P12 increase in the minimum wage for Western Visayas manageable, while labor said it is not even enough to buy a poor man's meal.

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon, on the other hand, said the minimum wage should not be legislated, the adjustment of wages should be like free enterprise.

Labor Regional Director Ponciano Ligutom, Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board chair, yesterday announced the approval of the P12 increase that will take effect 15 days after publication of the wage order.

Three rallies calling for just wages, and a job fair by the Department of Labor and Employment will welcome 126th celebration of Labor Day in Bacolod City today.

Two Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros groups will march from the Provincial Capitol Lagoon Park and from Lupit Church to the Bacolod Public Plaza at 1 p.m. today for a rally with Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares as their guest speaker.

Partido ng Manggagawa-Negros will also hold a rally at the Bacolod Rotonda at Gonzaga-Gatuslao streets, while the Democratic Association of Labor Organizations-Negros will picket at the Bacolod Fountain of Justice.

The Bacolod City police will be on heightened alert today in anticipation of the protests to be staged in the city to commemorate Labor Day.

City Police Director Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz said they will enhance police visibility in areas like the Public Plaza, the City Rotonda and the Fountain of Justice, where rallies of different labor organizations will be held.

De la Paz also said they will deploy intelligence operatives to monitor the situation in the rally centers as other groups may take advantage of the situation.