THE Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTPWB) will assess not only the needs of workers and their families and the capacity of employers to pay but also the comparable wages and incomes across provinces in Region 7 and other parts of the country.

Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) 7 Director Alvin Villamor, RTWPB chairman, said they received two wage increase petitions, for a P155 across the board wage adjustment, from different labor groups last February, and for P120 from the Associated Labor Union-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines.

RTWPB deliberated on these last May 16 and May 22 and will decide in their next meeting on June 7. Villamor said RTWPB 7 has completed four hearings and will continue to assess the regional economic conditions, taking into consideration the inputs presented by other government agencies.

He said that Philippine Statistics Authority presented and discussed the updated prices of basic agricultural products, inflation rate, and consumer price index.

Updates on the prices of basic prime commodities were revealed by the Department of Trade and Industry, while Region 7’s economic performance and prospects were presented by National Economic and Development Authority. (EOB)