ILOILO City — A major wage increase push is set to confront regional wage regulators.
A labor coalition in Western Visayas is preparing to file a petition seeking a P250 daily minimum wage hike, citing inflation and rising fuel costs expected to further strain workers’ purchasing power in the coming months.
United Labor Panay is set to file its petition before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) on April 30, a day ahead of Labor Day, in what could trigger a fresh round of wage deliberations across the region.
According to United Labor Panay spokesperson Elmer Forro, they are pushing for a substantial wage adjustment in anticipation of further inflationary pressures, particularly from petroleum price increases, which continue to lack a clear timeline for stabilization.
He also cited a study showing that P1,200 daily “living wage” is what’s needed by a worker to sustain a family.
Forro expressed hope that the RTWPB would act on the wage hike petition at the soonest possible time, although he acknowledged that past wage petitions typically undergo two to three months of deliberation before approval.
United Labor Panay includes several unions such as the Coca-Cola Employees Union, Grab Drivers Employees Union, and Iloilo Doctors Hospital Employees Union, among others.
The wage hike push comes months after the implementation of Wage Order No. RBVI-28, which took effect on November 17, 2025 following its approval by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) on October 28.l, 2025.
The order raised minimum wages in the private sector across Western Visayas, including:
* For non-agriculture/industrial/commercial establishments employing more than 10 workers — P513
* For those employing 10 workers or less — P485
* For agriculture — P480
For domestic workers, Wage Order No. RBVI-DW-06 increased monthly pay to P6,000.
Meanwhile, the NWPC announced on April 20 that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the commission are preparing for the next wage review cycle starting May 2026 in the National Capital Region.
The agency said global and regional economic factors, including developments in the Middle East and their impact on fuel and commodity prices, will be considered in the upcoming wage review process.
The NWPC and RTWPBs are also closely monitoring socioeconomic conditions in their respective regions, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure timely wage reviews that balance fair pay with business viability./PN
