FORMER Vice President and senatorial aspirant Jejomar C. Binay is urging authorities to immediately resolve pending petitions to increase the minimum wage.
At the same time, Binay proposed further increasing income tax exemptions to benefit more working Filipinos, not just minimum wage earners.
Binay said middle class and working Filipinos have been affected by the increase in prices of basic commodities and fuel triggered by the prolonged conflict in Ukraine.
He said they are also still struggling to recover from the economic dislocation caused by pandemic and the prolonged lockdown.
Binay said raising income tax exemptions will benefit the below-middle class and the middle class, which includes office clerks, government employees, teachers, policemen and call center agents.
“Tax savings will help more Filipinos cope with the economic uncertainties caused by the Ukraine conflict and the pandemic,” he said.
It will also encourage consumer spending which is needed to lift the economy, he added.
The former vice president, who is running under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), also said government should sustain its cash and food aid for the poorest of the poor.
“Maraming eksperto ang nagsasabi na may kakayanan ang gobyerno ng magbigay ng mas mataas na ayuda sa ating mga mahihirap na kababayan. Kung kaya aming ibigay, dapat ibigay,” he said. (Baby Cuevas)
