Minimum wage earners in Metro Cebu, the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Talisay, Naga, Carcar, and Danao, and the municipalities of Compostela, Consolacion, Liloan, Cordova, Minglanilla, and San Fernando will get an increase of P13 a day.

“The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Region 7 issued Wage Order RB VII-19. From the current P340, minimum wage will become P353 when the wage order takes effect,” said Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz.

The Regional Wage Board approved the adjustment in the daily basic wage of minimum wage earners in the private sector in Metro Cebu, including the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Talisay, Naga, Carcar, and Danao, and the municipalities of Compostela, Consolacion, Liloan, Cordova, Minglanilla, and San Fernando.

The increase, however, will not apply to other areas of Cebu Province, Bohol, and Siquijor.

Baldoz, citing a report from the Department of Labor and Employment’s Regional office No. 7, said that the amount was agreed upon by the wage board to recover the erosion of the workers’ purchasing power amid the increase in the prices of prime goods.
The report said that the P13 increase is a response to the petitions earlier filed by the Alliance of Progressive Labor and Associated Labor Union – Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), which filed a P145.00 and P92.00 across the board wage increase, respectively.

The decision for the P13 increase was unanimous.

Prior to the grant of the wage increase, the Regional Wage Board in Cebu City conducted a series of wage consultations and public hearings.

The board members include Department of Trade and Industry Regional Office No. 7 (DTI 7) Director Asteria Caberte, National Economic and Development Authority Regional Office No. 7 (NEDA 7) Director Efren Carreon; employers’ representatives Hidelito Pascual and Philip Tan; and labor representatives Jose Tomungha and Ernesto Carreon.

Source: Department of Labor and Employment.