NWPC disputes claims of delayed minimum wage review

THE National Wages and Productivity Commission said there is no delay in the ongoing minimum wage determination process in the Davao and Bicol regions, pushing back against claims that workers have been kept waiting for wage adjustments.

“There is no delay, and claims suggesting otherwise are misleading,” the commission said in a statement dated Jan. 16, 2026.

The clarification came after the Federation of Free Workers said on Jan. 11 that workers in Davao and Bicol should not be made to wait for wage increases amid rising living costs.

The commission said labor representatives sitting on the regional wage boards, along with officials of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards in both regions, are aware of the timelines and rules that govern wage setting.

Under the Omnibus Rules on Minimum Wage Determination, the regional boards must begin the wage review process within 60 days before the anniversary of the last wage order, either on their own initiative or through a petition.

The NWPC said the anniversary of the most recent wage order in Davao falls on March 7, 2025, while Bicol’s is on April 5, 2026. Based on those dates, the 60-day window for Davao opened on Jan. 6, 2026, while Bicol’s will begin on Feb. 4, 2026.

“These timelines fall squarely within what the rules require,” the commission said.

The NWPC added that it and the regional wage boards continue to assess economic conditions and issue wage adjustments that are “timely and evidence-based,” balancing the needs of workers and employers in accordance with the law.

Wage adjustments in Davao

To recall, the RTWPB-Davao Region announced its plan to hold a public hearing about the wage adjustment for private sector workers and domestic workers on February 4, 2025.

The hearing is part of the board's mandate to periodically review regional minimum wages, aligning with Republic Act No. 6727, or the “Wage Rationalization Act,” and the Omnibus Rules on Minimum Wage Determination.

The session focused on the proposed minimum wage adjustments for workers in both the private sector and domestic service.

Latest wage orders

Earlier, the board approved higher pay for domestic workers under Wage Order No. RBXI-DW-03. Effective March 6, 2024, monthly minimum wages rose to P6,000 in chartered cities and first-class municipalities and to P5,000 in other areas.

The board issued an increase under Wage Order No. RBXI-23, that took effect on March 7, 2025.

As a result, daily minimum wages now stand at P510 for non-agriculture workers and P505 for agriculture workers in the region." RGP