Manila, July 31 -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Thursday the filing of new bills on additional wages for workers is solely in the hands of Congress.

According to DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, if a bill becomes a law, the responsibility of the department is to implement it.

"Refiling and filing of new bills, including wage hike, is within the power of our legislative branch. That's their mandate. If any proposed legislation, whatever be the subject matter, becomes a law, it is the duty of the executive department, in this case the DOLE, to implement the same," he said in an interview.

Asked to react to the statement of labor groups that they were disappointed over President Ferdinand R. Marcos' failure to men...