TACLOBAN CITY — More than 164,000 minimum wage earners in Eastern Visayas will see an increase in their daily pay beginning December 8, following the implementation of Wage Order No. 25, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB-8) announced.
The wage hike is set to boost incomes for private-sector workers across the region, including those in agriculture, retail, services, and cottage industries.
The RTWPB-8 reminded employers that compliance with the new wage order is mandatory and urged workers to report violations. “Workers can file their complaint to DOLE, and it will be subject to complaint inspection,” the board said, noting that even anonymous complaints will be accepted.
The new wage order, issued on November 10, 2025, and published on November 22, provides a total P35 daily increase for private-sector employees. The adjustment will be applied in two tranches: a P17 increase starting December 8, 2025, and an additional P18 beginning June 1, 2026.
Under the first tranche, daily minimum wages for agriculture, cottage and handicraft, and service/retail establishments with 1–10 employees will rise from P405 to P422, eventually reaching P440 in June 2026. Meanwhile, non-agriculture and service/retail establishments with more than 10 employees will see wages increase from P435 to P452 in December, then to P470 in June.
In addition, Wage Order No. 06 adjusts the monthly pay for domestic workers (kasambahays).
Those employed in chartered cities and first-class municipalities will now receive P6,400, up by P400, while domestic workers in other municipalities will earn P5,800, a P300 increase. The agency, however, noted that data on the exact number of domestic workers affected in the region is not yet available.
RTWPB-8, chaired by DOLE Regional Director Lawyer Dax Villaruel, said the wage adjustment was issued motu proprio, following a review of prevailing socio-economic conditions, as no wage petition was filed this year. Key factors considered include the region’s consumer price index, the 2023 poverty threshold, gross regional domestic product growth, the number of micro establishments, and other economic indicators.
Under Republic Act 6727, or the Wage Rationalization Act, regional wage boards are mandated to set minimum wage rates and issue corresponding wage orders to ensure workers receive fair compensation in accordance with economic realities.
With this adjustment, Eastern Visayas aims to provide immediate financial relief to low-income workers while addressing the rising cost of living in the region.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
