RTWPB-II conducted the final two legs of its province-wide minimum wage consultations on August 6, 2025 in Bayombong , Nueva Vizcaya and August 7, 2025 in Santiago City, Isabela. 

To equip the public with information to support their petitions, Atty. Lovely Mei R. Dela Cruz, OIC-Board Secretary of RTWPB-II, presented the prevailing minimum wage rates in the region while Atty. Ellaine Battung of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) presented the socio-economic profile of Region 2 down to the provincial level.  

DOLE Regional Director Jesus Elpidio B. Atal Jr., also RTWPB-II Chairperson, urged stakeholders to share their views, emphasizing that their input would guide the Board in shaping a responsive and balanced wage policy for the region. 

“Your voices matter in this process. The Board will carefully study all perspectives to ensure that our decision on the minimum wage will be fair, reasonable, and reflective of both workers’ needs and employers’ capacities,” RD Atal said. 

Employees’ Representatives Jesus Villamor and Johnny Alvaro facilitated group discussions among participants from the workers’ and kasambahay sectors while Employers’ Representatives Gary Chong and Gerald Tactay led the discussions with business owners and management representatives. 

The workers’ and kasambahay (domestic workers) sectors strongly pushed for a wage increase, citing the rising costs of food, the need to support their families, and the importance of saving for education, health, and other essential expenses. On the other hand, the employers’ sector proposed deferring any increase or implementing it in tempered or staggered tranches.  

RD Atal commended the candid sharing of perspectives, underscoring that such exchanges embody the principle of tripartism—where workers, employers, and government collaborate in decision-making to achieve balanced and sustainable labor policies. 

With the completion of these public consultations, RTWPB-II has now heard from all sectors in the five provinces of the region.  

RTWPB-II will next deliberate on whether to proceed with a public hearing before finalizing any proposed wage adjustments. Stakeholders are encouraged to remain engaged and actively participate in the upcoming stages of the process. (Francis Joseph M. Reyes)