The country's economic team warned that the proposed legislated wage increase could backfire instead of helping the poor.

In a position paper submitted to Marcos, the Development Budget Coordinating Committee (DBCC) said the proposed wage increase will result in inflation, which will be detrimental to the poor, cause micro, small, and medium enterprises to reduce their workforce or shutdown their operations, which will result to mass displacement.

It add that will disproportionately affect less developed regions, drag down the country's economic growth.

''It was recommended to the President that the current system of adjusting wages through the regional tripartite wages and productivity boards be maintained, while strengthening the implementation of the minimum wage law with a focus on having each region more adequately respond to the evolving needs of its workers,'' the DBCC said.

The pending legislated wage hikes are House Bill 11376, which will implement a P200 across-the board wage hike, and Senate Bill 2534, which will give workers a P100 wage increase. The 19th Congress will adjourn sine die on June 13.

In a press briefing in Malacanang last Wednesday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr will conduct his own assessment on these.

"The President still needs to read the details regarding that. If this is good for Filipino workers, the President will probably agree to it, but he said that he really needs to study it before he agrees because there are many stakeholders' concerns that should also be heard in that area," Castro said. DMS