TWO lawmakers at the House of Representatives rejected the Senate's proposal for a legislated wage hike.

According to the House Appropriations Committee Senior Vice Chair and Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo an across-the-broad wage hike will not be good for the economy.

They explained that it may be "inflationary" and eventually negate its intended benefit.

"Ang gagawin po ng mga kumpaniya is ipapasa po nila ang pagtaas ng wage sa presyo [ng kanilang produkto]... So you will temporarily satisfy our workers, who are also consumers, so eventually yung tinaas sa sahod nila ay kakainin din po sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin," Quimbo said.

For his part, Salceda said that any wage hikes are better left to the regional wage boards.

"At this point, it will have to be the President sending signals to the regional tripartite wage boards to discuss the possible adjustments in the wages," Salceda added.

Salceda explained that wage hikes may lead to the closure of companies that cannot afford to pay their workers.

The Senate is currently deliberating on bills mandating a wage hike for all Filipino workers.