The effect of the P50 daily increase for minimum wage earners within the National Capital Region (NCR) in the overall inflation may be felt in the coming months, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) officer said.

In a press conference, PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa explained that the impact of the daily wage hike will not be felt immediately due to "lag effect".

"The effectivity of 50 pesos daily wage increase in NCR is on July 18. We see a lag effect in areas where the wage increase will be imposed, so there is no immediate impact but there are commodity items that will have a price hike," he stressed.

Mapa said those that will be affected include commodity items with high labor inputs like personal care, miscellaneous goods and services.

"It includes salon, spa, those who manufacture appliances... in previous wage increases it is where the impact was felt," he said.

"We see an increase in the prices but it will not be automatic. There will be a log (effect) we will see in a month, two months or three months after July siguro, maybe then we will see the increases in certain items," he added.

At least 1.2 million minimum wage earners in Metro Manila are expected to benefit from the P50 pesos daily wage hike which will take effect on July18.

The National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board unanimously approved the move to adjust the daily wage of non-agricultural workers from P645 to P695, and from P608 to P658 for agricultural workers on June 30.

The hike will lead to an increase of P1,100 per month for employees working five days a week, and up to P1,300 per month for those who are working six days. Robina Asido/DMS