THE P13 increase in the minimum wage approved by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) 7 yesterday applies for the entire region. This means all minimum wage earners in Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor will receive the P13 increase.
Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) 7 Director Exequiel Sarcauga, the RTWPB 7 chairman, and businessman Philip Tan, the management representative to RTWPB 7, refused to give details of the wage order.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello issued a gag order on RTWPB officials because he will be the one to announce it to the public once it is approved by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) that he chairs.
However, Jose Tomungha, the labor representative to RTWPB 7, revealed this development because the people are entitled to know it without delay. Tomungha said the P13 increase will apply throughout Region 7.
He said the new wage order was forwarded to NWPC yesterday. Once it is approved by the NWPC, it will take effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.