AFTER being deferred for five months, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) – Region V has finally issued wage orders for minimum wage earners and domestic workers in the Bicol Region.
In a statement, the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) announced that Wage Order No. RBV-22 grants a P40 daily wage increase for minimum wage earners in the Bicol Region.
“Wage Order No. RBV-22 brings the daily minimum wage rate in the Bicol Region from P395 to P435 for all sectors/industries,” said the NWPC.
It said the P40 daily wage increase will be implemented in two tranches, upon its effectivity on 05 April 2025, and on 01 December 2025.
“An estimated 100,414 minimum wage earners in the Bicol Region are expected to benefit,” said NWPC.
The Bicol Region wage board also issued RBV-DW-04, which provides a P1,000 monthly increase for domestic workers.
“Upon implementation, the new monthly minimum wage for kasambahays in the region shall be P6,000,” it said.
It said the new wage order will take effect after 15 days from publication, or on 05 April 2025.
“Approximately 94,042 domestic workers in the region will receive a monthly increase,” said the RTWPB – V.
The twin wage orders issued by RTWPB – V come months after the wage review process was suspended.
“The new wage orders for Bicol Region come after the deferment initiated by the labor representatives in November 2024 to allow economic recovery following the impact of tropical cyclone Kristine,” said the NWPC.
The last wage order in the Bicol Region took effect on December 1, 2023.
In a related development, the RTWPB – IX also issued a new wage order for domestic workers in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Under Wage Order No. RIX-DW-05, domestic workers in the Zamboanga Peninsula were granted a P900 increase to the monthly minimum wage.
“Upon implementation, the new monthly minimum wage of domestic workers in chartered cities and first-class municipalities in the region shall be P5,500; and P5,000 in other municipalities,” said NWPC.
The wage order in Zamboanga Peninsula will take effect on 03 April 2025.
Around 18,984 kasambahays in the Zamboanga Peninsula are expected to benefit from the wage order of the RTWPB – IX.
