President Bongbong Marcos said minimum wage reviews are underway across the country, with regional wage boards assessing local conditions after Metro Manila approved an ₱85 daily increase for minimum wage workers.
Marcos made the statement during the launch of the 2026 National Kick-Off of the School-Based Feeding Program and Milk Feeding Activity in Pulilan, Bulacan, where he said the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards are continuously evaluating whether workers in each region need higher mandated wages.
“Ang tripartite wage board, sa regional tripartite wage board, patuloy ‘yan, hindi tumitigil ‘yan, patuloy na tinitingnan at inaaral kung ano ba talagang presyuhan doon sa bawat region para mailagay na tama ang ating wage rate kung kailangan ng wage hike,” Marcos said.
The president pointed to the National Capital Region as the first major benchmark. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said more than 1.1 million minimum wage workers in Metro Manila are covered by Wage Order No. NCR-27, which grants an ₱85 increase in two tranches. The first ₱60 takes effect July 19, 2026, followed by another ₱25 on Jan. 20, 2027.
“Ang nauna ay ang NCR, ₱85 ang naging wage hike, ito ay buong kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, ang pinakamaraming pagtaas ng wages dito, lalo na sa Metro Manila,” Marcos said.
The adjustment will raise the daily minimum wage in Metro Manila to ₱780 for nonagriculture workers and ₱743 for agriculture workers, as well as employees of small retail and service establishments and small manufacturing establishments. DOLE described it as the largest single daily minimum wage increase ever approved in the region.
Marcos said other regions are still completing their assessments, with some expected to finish the process by September or October.
“Ang susunod ay sa mga region pero matagal pa yan mga September, October pa yung iba kaya pag natapos na sila sa kanilang pag-aaral ay ilabas na rin natin na yung naging resulta kung ano ang rekomendasyon ng ating tripartite wage sa iba’t ibang region,” Marcos said.
The review follows the regional wage-setting system under Republic Act No. 6727, or the Wage Rationalization Act, under which wage adjustments are determined based on local economic conditions, consultations and public hearings involving labor, employers and government representatives.
