MANILA -- A wage adjustment is in order for workers in the Calabarzon region, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Wednesday.

DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) of Region 4A was expected to release a new wage order this September.

“Bukod sa National Capital Region-- ang kanilang wage order ay naging produktibo noong nakaraang July 17, susunod na po dyan ang Region IV-A o Calabarzon,” said Laguesma in an interview with state-run media.

The last wage hike in Calabarzon was issued in September of 2023, which granted workers with a P35 to P50 increase in their daily minimum wage.

According to Laguesma, other regional wage boards are either in the process of reviewing the minimum wage rates in their respective areas or are set to begin doing so in the next few months.

“Nung Agosto, ang Regions 2, 3, 7, and 12 nagsimula na ang proseso. Itong buwan na ito, sa kasalukuyan, gagawa na rin ng kanilang pag-rerepaso at konsultasyon ang Regions 1, 6, and 9. Sa darating na Oktubre, ang magsasagawa ng konsultasyon… ay ang Regions ng CAR/Cordillera Administrative Region, ang Region IV-B/Mimaropa, at ang Regions 5 and 8. Pinakahuli dyan, sa Nobyembre, ay yung Regions 10 and 13,” he said.

Laguesma said this was in accordance with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the Labor Day celebration last May.

“Kailangan ang lahat ng Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards ay magsagawa ng timely review 60 days prior to the anniversary date ng mga nakaraang wage order nila,” he said.

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