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'Pwedeng mangyari 'yan': Claire Castro on state of emergency, wage hike

Article (news)

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

<p>Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Wednesday said it is possible that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr will declare a state of emergency if prices of basic goods skyrocket due to soaring oil prices.</p><p>Castro said the President has not ordered a price freeze since the trade department and stakeholders are still in discussions about prices of basic commodities. </p><p>“Pwedeng mangyari &#x27;yan katulad ng nangyari doon sa bagyo, lindol. Hindi pa napag-uusapan sa ngayon pero maari magdeklara kapag nagkataon, kapag tama na ang sitwasyon. Kapag nakita naman natin na umaabuso lang,” she said.</p><p>“Hindi maiiwasan ang pagtaas ng presyo ng fuel dahil sa tuloy-tuloy na nangyayari sa Middle East so titignan natin kung ‘yung pagtaas ba ng presyo ng basic commodities ay dapat.”</p><p>Proposals for a possible wage hike have yet to be discussed, Castro said.</p><p>In a separate interview, Asec. Lennard Constantine Serrano, spokesperson of the Department of Labor and Employment, said regional wage boards conduct regular reviews of salaries amid rising costs. </p><p>He said Region 11 or Davao Region implemented a P20-P30 daily wage increase last March 13 while Region 5 or Bicol Region will implement a P45 daily wage increase in two tranches: April 8 and December 1. </p><p>Castro, meanwhile, confirmed that a cut in fuel excise taxes would benefit not just the poor but also the middle class and the rich.</p><p>“i-appreciate na natin kasi hindi pwedeng mamili lang tayo. Pati yung middle class, pati &#x27;yung nakakaangat sa buhay kailangan din nila ng tulong sa gobyerno,&quot; she said.</p><p>Economist Winnie Monsod and Prof. Mon Abrea earlier warned that a cut in fuel excise taxes could lead to a rise in national debt as the government borrows heavily to make up for the cut in revenues to finance the budget.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qzy3qUclPu0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Monsod and IBON Foundation executive director Sonny Africa have proposed a tax on the country&#x27;s wealthiest individuals, saying the 15 wealthiest Filipinos have a combined wealth of 2.6 trillion pesos.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/11/razon-is-philippines-top-billionaire-musk-moves-closer-to-trillionaire-status-1125">Razon is Philippines’ top billionaire; Musk moves closer to trillionaire status</a></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wXaOhhsynl8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dloQ5lC-QRo?&amp;t=16s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Wednesday said it is possible that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr will declare a state of emergency if prices of basic goods skyrocket due to soaring oil prices.</p>

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Wednesday said it is possible that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr will declare a state of emergency if prices of basic goods skyrocket due to soaring oil prices.

'Pwedeng mangyari 'yan': Claire Castro on declaration of state of emergency, wage hike

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'Pwedeng mangyari 'yan': Claire Castro on declaration of state of emergency, wage hike

David Dizon,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 18, 2026 09:52 AM PHT

|

Updated March 18, 2026 10:38 AM PHT

Read More:

excise tax

state of emergency

claire castro

winnie monsod

mon abrea

sonny africa

billionaires tax

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