Philippines implements minimum wage increases in Metro Manila and Central Visayas

Minimum wage increases have taken effect in two major Philippine regions to address the rising cost of living.

In the National Capital Region (NCR), Wage Order No. NCR-28 has implemented a P60 daily increase. This raises non-agricultural wages to P755, while agricultural, small retail, and service sector wages rise to P718. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has signaled strict enforcement of these new rates, which affect approximately 1.1 million workers.

In Central Visayas, a new wage order provides a P42 daily increase for workers in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor. In Class A areas, including the expanded Metro Cebu zone, the daily minimum wage rises from P540 to P582. In Class B areas, the rate increases from P500 to P542. Domestic workers will see their monthly minimum rise from P7,000 to P7,500. Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino noted that the increase covers nearly 385,000 earners in the region.