Malacañang said it will continue defending Metro Manila’s ₱85 daily minimum wage increase despite a temporary restraining order that halted its implementation and delayed higher pay for about 1.1 million workers.
Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 152 issued the TRO after construction firms Readycon Trading and Construction Corp. and R-II Builders Inc. challenged NCR Wage Order No. 27. The petition questioned whether the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board adequately considered employers’ capacity to shoulder the increase.
“Pero sa ngayon ay ipinaglalaban ang stance ng ating pamahalaan patungkol sa wage order para sa ating mga kababayan sa NCR,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.
The wage adjustment was approved in two tranches. An initial ₱60 increase was set to take effect on July 25, followed by another ₱25 on January 20, 2027.
Full implementation would raise the daily minimum wage to ₱780 for nonagricultural workers. The rate would increase to ₱743 for agricultural workers and employees of covered smaller establishments.
Castro said parties opposing the wage order should have first used the administrative appeal process provided under labor rules. She added that the Office of the Solicitor General is prepared to defend the wage board’s decision in court.
“Ang pagbibigay naman ng tamang wage o suweldo sa ating mga manggagawa, ito naman ay nais ng Pangulo,” Castro said.
The TRO temporarily blocks workers from receiving the approved adjustment while the case remains pending. Malacañang maintained that it will pursue the wage increase and support efforts to remove the legal barrier to its implementation.
