QUEZON CITY — AS Congress prepares to adjourn sine die today, the House of Representatives is urging the Senate to immediately convene the bicameral conference committee to reconcile the differing versions of the proposed legislated daily wage increase bill.
In a formal letter to Senate Committee on Labor Chair Sen. Joel Villanueva, House Committee on Labor and Employment Chairman Rep. Fidel Nograles cited the urgency of passing the measure, warning that failure to act today would leave millions of Filipino workers “with nothing—despite months of effort and public expectation.”
“The House of Representatives acted swiftly and decisively,” Nograles wrote. “We passed our version of the bill on third reading, submitted the names of our conferees in advance, and have since stood ready to enter into bicameral discussions with our Senate counterparts.”
He pointed out that the Senate only named its conferees last night, limiting the already narrow window for bicameral discussions and ratification.
“If we fail to deliver today, there is a very real danger that our workers will be left with nothing,” Nograles said.
He stressed that the House strongly prefers a transparent and deliberative bicameral process, “rather than being bamboozled into accepting the Senate version wholesale, without discussion or compromise.”
“That is not how co-equal chambers of Congress are expected to legislate. We cannot and should not be forced into a corner where our only option is to rubber-stamp a version that does not reflect the result of honest dialogue,” he added. “This bill deserves better. The Filipino people deserve better.”
The House warned against any attempt to “circumvent the process by limiting dialogue or bypassing bicameral reconciliation,” saying it would be “a disservice to the legislative process and to the people we are all sworn to serve.”
“With both panels now duly constituted, we appeal for the immediate convening of the bicameral conference committee—today, if we are to meet our deadline. The House panel is ready, willing, and available. All that remains is for our counterparts in the Senate to come to the table,” the letter stated.
In closing, Nograles emphasized: “Let history show that we in the House did everything within our power to pass this important piece of legislation. Should it fail to reach the President’s desk before adjournment, the responsibility will be clear to the public.”
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