CAGAYAN de Oro City— A labor coalition has asked the Supreme Court to resolve the legal battle over the Metro Manila wage hike, saying workers can no longer afford to wait as a temporary restraining order (TRO) continues to block the ₱60 daily increase.
The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) and the NAGKAISA!-led coalition of labor unions and organizations filed a Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, August 12, challenging cases involving NCR Wage Order No. 27, which grants a ₱85 increase in the minimum wage.
FFW President and NAGKAISA! Chair Atty. Sonny Matula said bringing the case to the high court does not mean abandoning the Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) handling the disputes in Pasig and Navotas.
The labor groups have pending urgent motions for intervention in those cases and will continue pursuing them, Matula said.
“We went to the two RTCs to enter the cases and make the workers’ voices heard. While we wait, the ₱60 daily wage increase remains locked because of the TRO in Pasig. That is why we are now knocking on the last door—the Supreme Court,” Matula said.
The coalition is asking the Supreme Court to provide a single and authoritative ruling on whether RTCs can stop the implementation of a wage order.
The labor groups cited Article 123 of the Labor Code, which provides for appeals to the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC), and Article 126, which prohibits injunctive relief against proceedings of the NWPC and Regional Wage Boards.
Matula said workers should not have to fight the same wage issue in different courts.
“Hindi natin puwedeng gawing Marawi-style house-to-house legal battle ito—RTC by RTC, courtroom by courtroom,” he said.
For minimum-wage earners, Matula said, the ₱60 daily increase represents basic needs such as food, transportation, medicine, electricity and school allowances.
“Puwedeng magdebate ang mga abogado tungkol sa jurisdiction nang ilang buwan. Pero ang bigas, hindi tumatanggap ng motion for extension,” he said.
The labor coalition said the dispute goes beyond the ₱85 wage increase. It is also seeking clear Supreme Court guidance for workers, employers, lawyers and courts on where challenges to wage orders should be filed and how far regular courts can intervene.
Matula urged the Supreme Court to act promptly on the petition.
“Ang jurisprudence puwedeng hintayin. Ang gutom, hindi,” he said. “Sana dinggin agad ng Supreme Court ang boses ng manggagawa at mabuksan ang kandado sa sahod na kailangan nila ngayon.” (Ben Balce, Editorial Lead)
