Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 25) — While the call for a wage hike was not mentioned during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA), the chief executive still considers it an issue that has to be resolved, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said.

“He also wants to deal with the wage hikes but the problem is it might be preempting initiatives that are already pending in the Congress,” Bersamin told CNN Philippines’ The Source on Tuesday.

While the wage issue is the second most urgent national concern for Filipinos, according to a Pulse Asia Survey, it was not tackled during the SONA.

In his speech during the opening of the second regular session of the 19th Congress, House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s list of government’s priority measures did not include a bill that will increase the minimum wage.

READ: Senate, House open the second regular session of 19th Congress

Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said in his opening session speech that a wage hike is a priority for senators.

He earlier said senators have already agreed in principle to push for a ₱150 across-the-board wage increase, with a committee report already being drafted.

“There may be developments that have to be considered that impact on legislated wage hike. We are very slow on that. As far as the national government is concerned, that’s the initiative of the Congress,” Bersamin said.

The last legislated minimum wage increase was in1989.

Meanwhile, the last wage hike petition was approved for Metro Manila.

In June, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in the National Capital Region approved a daily minimum wage increase of ₱40 for workers in the private sector.

READ: NCR just saw a wage hike, what about the other regions?