Mad Mayor: A Factory Worker in Valenzuela Was Given His P1,056 Salary in 5 and 10-Centavo Coins

A factory worker in Valenzuela City asked help from the local government after he was paid P1,056 for two days’ work in five and 10-centavo coins. A cousin of the worker, who was not identified, posted photos of the stack of coins on social media and tagged the local government of Valenzuela.
Mayor @rex_gatchalian met with the representative of Next Green Factory and the employee who received his salary of two days amounting to 1,056 Pesos, all in 5- and 10-centavos. pic.twitter.com/hGxWQdqJza
— valenzuelacity (@valenzuelacity) June 28, 2021
“Sobrang pambabastos po talaga to sa pinsan ko, ganito yung pinasahod puro sentimo (It’s really disrespectful. They gave my cousin’s salary in coins),” the cousin posted on Facebook.
The cousin identified the company as Next Green Factory.
According to the Public Information Office of Valenzuela City, which runs the official social media accounts of the city, Mayor Rex Gatchalian met with a representative of Next Green Factory to discuss the incident. However, Gatchalian said he had called for another meeting on Wednesday with the owners of the factory, who said they were out of town.
“I’ll face the owner himself with the concerned worker on Wed,” Gatchalian said via Twitter. “Sending me a company representative won't cut it for me. I’ll see to it that we get to the bottom of this "cruel and unusual" labor practice...and deal with it accordingly...”
Ill face the owner himself with the concerned worker on Wed. Sending me a company representative won't cut it for me. Ill see to it that we get to the bottom of this "cruel and unusual" labor practice...and deal with it accordingly... https://t.co/Lxtqtxq6S6
— Rex (@rex_gatchalian) June 28, 2021
Gatchalian told Manila Bulletin that the worker believed the company intentionally paid him his wages in coins because he had reportedly been pointing out unfair labor practices committed inside the factory.
The report also said Gatchalian might ask the company owner to “pick the coins one by one” as punishment for the incident.
The Valenzuela City LGU referred to a ruling by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas that said “coins in denomination of P1 to P5 shall be legal tender in amount not exceeding P1,000.00; and P0.01 to .05, 0.10 to 0.25 and 0.25 centavo shall be legal tender in the amount not exceeding P100.00.”
Pursuant to BSP Circular No. 537, Series of 2006, it clearly states that coins in denomination of P1 to P5 shall be legal tender in amount not exceeding P1,000.00; and P0.01 to .05, 0.10 to 0.25 and 0.25 centavo shall be legal tender in the amount not exceeding P100.00.
— valenzuelacity (@valenzuelacity) June 28, 2021