Wage hikes approved for Western Visayas, SOCCSKSARGEN
MANILA — The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) approved new wage hikes for Region VI (Western Visayas) and Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN), effective November 19, 2026.
NWPC Chairman and Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPB) conducted consultations and public hearings before they came up with the computation of new wage hikes.
In Region VI, Tolentino said public hearings started on July 21. These were attended by transport groups, labor groups, business organizations, and other stakeholders.
“Ang Region VI ay ( Iloilo ), pumapangalawa na po sa Metro Manila sa pinakamataas na suweldo. Naungusan ng Region VI-Iloilo ang Cebu nang kaunti,” Tolentino told reporters.
“Lahat kinonsidera…ang cost of living, ang inflation, ang purchasing power ng piso at kinonsidera ang pangangailangan ng manggagawa at kakayanan ng mga kumpanya, ng mga negosyante na magbigay ng dagdag na sahod,” Tolentino explained.
For Region VI, minimum wage earners will receive daily minimum wage increases ranging from P40 to P45.
Under Wage Order No. VI-30, the new daily minimum wage rates in Western Visayas will be P590 for workers in non-agricultural, industrial, and commercial establishments employing more than 10 workers.
It will be P565 for non-agricultural, industrial, and commercial establishments employing 10 workers or fewer, while agricultural workers will receive P565 per day.
Under the same order, domestic workers will receive a P500 monthly minimum wage increase, raising their monthly wage rate from P6,500 to P7,000.
DOLE said an estimated 193,000 minimum wage earners in the private sector will benefit from this new wage hike. It will also benefit 161,000 domestic workers.
Meanwhile, in RSOCCSKSARGEN, under Wage Order No. XII-26, private sector minimum wage earners will receive a total daily wage increase of P41. This will be given in two tranches.
The first tranche will be given on Nov. 19, while the second tranche will be on January 1, 2027.
For the 1st tranche, NWPC said P16 per day will be given, bringing the minimum wage rates to P476 for workers in the retail, service, and non-agricultural sector. It will be at P459 for agricultural workers.
The 2nd tranche worth P25 per day will bring daily minimum wage rates to P501 for non-agricultural and service workers, and P484 for agricultural workers.
Domestic workers in the region will also receive a P450 monthly minimum wage increase, raising their monthly rate from P6,000 to P6,450.
DOLE said approximately 209,000 private establishment workers are classified as minimum wage earners in Region XII.
These wage orders will be published on November 4 and will take effect on November 19.