ILOILO City — A P250 daily wage increase petition for private sector workers in Western Visayas is now under review, with the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) assuring it will act on the proposal as labor groups push for urgent relief from rising prices and fuel costs.
The petition, formally filed on April 30 by representatives of the United Labor Alliance Western Visayas and Kilusang Mayo Uno-Panay at the RTWPB office in Jaro district, comes a day before Labor Day and underscores mounting pressure on wages amid inflation and petroleum price hikes linked to tensions in the Middle East.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional director Atty. Sixto Rodriguez Jr., who also chairs the RTWPB, said the board will thoroughly assess the petition before making a decision.
“We recognize and respect the right of workers to ask for a wage increase but, of course, we have to determine whether or not it is reasonable and it is acceptable to the other party. We must be guided by the principles of justice and fairness,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez explained that the wage board must undergo a process of evaluating the substance of the petition in consultation with both labor and management representatives.
He noted that while discussions on wage adjustments are typically barred for one year following the last wage order, exceptions may apply.
“There should be a supervening event that substantially amends or changes the existing wage structure,” he stressed.
The last wage increase in the region took effect on Nov. 17, 2025 under Wage Order No. RBVI-28, raising daily pay across sectors, including non-agriculture workers earning up to P513 and agriculture workers up to P480.
Labor leaders, however, argue that the increase has been overtaken by rising costs of living.
Mario Andon, spokesperson of United Labor Western Visayas, said the proposed P250 hike aims to bring workers closer to what the government considers a “living wage.”
The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) earlier said it is preparing for the next round of minimum wage reviews starting May 2026 in the National Capital Region, with socioeconomic conditions — including the impact of Middle East tensions on commodity prices — factored into deliberations.
The NWPC and regional wage boards are closely monitoring economic indicators as part of a directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure timely wage reviews that balance fair pay and business viability.
For Western Visayas, the next regular wage review cycle is tentatively set for September 2026, but the pending petition could prompt earlier consultations.
The RTWPB-6’s forthcoming decision is expected to weigh the urgency of workers’ demands against economic sustainability, as calls intensify for wage adjustments that match the region’s rising cost of living./PN
