Is the minimum wage enough to keep up with our necessities? People ask themselves this question because they experience the minimum wage is not sufficient to provide for their everyday needs. In Baguio City alone, the minimum wage was raised from P280 to P 285 by the government. Was the raise a significant value or was it just a value provided for the sake of saying that there was an increase in the minimum wage?
After spending on meals, transportation, government contributions, utilities, etc., what would be left with us at the end of the day? Would the remaining cash, if there is, be able to give us enough for our future needs? If we consider our obligations to our family, will there be an amount to be put aside for savings or will we need to borrow? We want to relay these queries to our government.
We are always waiting for a substantial increase in the minimum wage from our lawmakers. We live our lives based on what we can afford. Changing and adapting to our economic status is not a bad idea, but, doing it to the extent that we are sacrificing a lot is not acceptable. We can hear of people skipping meals because their budget is not enough.
Some people do not even have enough money to use the cheapest form of transportation in the city. Parents and other individuals take the risk of borrowing money from loan sharks because it is less hassle when forced to borrow to meet some needs. Despite our hard work, the current minimum wage does not allow us a life of dignity.
As responsible citizens, let us speak out and let the government hear our need for increased minimum wage that will us to meet our basic needs without resorting to unnecessary sacrifices that will further put us into poverty.
We should not just sit back. Let us assist the government by making our voices heard because it is also our job to make to lives of everyone a better one.
By: Edward Danielle I. Cruz
