The DOLE-National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC), together with the sixteen (16) Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs), celebrated its 35th founding anniversary on 28 June 2024 at Malate, Manila.

With the theme “NWPC @ 35: Katuwang sa Maginhawa at Produktibong Bagong Pilipinas,” the milestone ceremony reminisced the accomplishments of the Commission for the past 35 years, and honored the pillars who helped established the NWPC by implementing its services, programs, and advocacies.

In her welcome remarks, NWPC Executive Director Maria Criselda R. Sy expressed her gratitude to all the former and current officers of NWPC and RTWPBs for their unwavering support to the fulfillment of the Commission’s mandate. “Mahalaga ang kontribusyon ng bawat isa sa pagpapatupad ng mandato ng NWPC at mga Regional Boards…We will continue to show up where and when it matters, while living our core value of being makatao, malikhain at mahusay,” she said.

Former and present NWPC and RTWPB officers and office units received recognition for their superior accomplishments and significant contributions to the overall success of the organization. The dedication and commitment of NWPC commissioner and RTWPB board members were also recognized during the program.

In his speech, Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma, NWPC Chairperson, commended the NWPC and RTWPBs for fulfilling their complicated task amidst conflicting public and stakeholders’ views on the proposed legislated wage hike and minimum wage increase petitions. “Hindi po madali ang pagdedesisyon at pagtatadhana ng dagdag sa umiiral na minimum wage sa iba’t ibang rehiyon. Masasabi nating ito ay isang thankless job, but someone has to do it…The law gives you the mandate and responsibility to do it, and we are doing it to ensure a just remuneration that protects workers from undue low pay. We are doing it to ensure job creation and job preservation,” he said.

“Malaki ang ambag ng productivity sa pagpapataas ng sweldo na natatanggap ng mga manggagawa. For the longest time, we have been advocating for productivity improvement…Masaya ako at lumalakas ang loob ko dahil dumadami at patuloy na sumasabay sa pagbabago ang mga productivity improvement training offerings ng NWPC-RTWPBs,” the DOLE Secretary added.

Highlight of the activity is the awarding of the Gawad Punong Lingkod to the former NWPC Executive Director and former DOLE Undersecretary Ciriaco A. Lagunzad III for his exemplary contribution to NWPC. He was the longest-serving head of the commission who led the organization from 1997 to 2009.

Undersecretary Benedicto Ernesto R. Bitonio, Jr. closed the activity with high hopes for NWPC to continue to perform for the next 35 years and beyond to better the interest of Filipino workers and enterprises.

Regional Directors serving as chairpersons, other heads of DOLE bureaus, services and attached agencies, NWPC commissioners and RTWPB board members, retirees and transferees of NWPC and RTWPBs also attended the event.

The NWPC was founded in 1989 with the passage of Republic Act 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act. The National Wages Council and the National Productivity Commission were merged to form the NWPC. The enactment of Republic Act No. 6971, or the Productivity Incentives Act of 1990, added productivity gainsharing as one of the main mandates of NWPC with the goal of increasing the income of Filipino workers.