Lagawe, Ifugao – RTWPB – Cordillera conducted a “Productivity 101: Wage Orientation and Productivity Training” to foster sustainable business practices and ensure fair labor standards on February 12, 2026, at Kanto Cucina, Lagawe, Ifugao.

The event gathered Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) owners and private employees for a comprehensive session on navigating recent wage adjustments while adopting eco-friendly industrial practices.

In his welcome remarks, TUPAD Coordinator for DOLE Ifugao Mr. Rodel Bumidang set the tone for the learning session, emphasizing the importance of balancing employee welfare with business viability.

Atty. Carolina Lim-Gamban led the orientation on “Wage Order No. CAR-24” and “Wage Order No. CAR-DW-07”, the new minimum wage rates for the region. She also tackled the concept of “Wage Distortion” to guide participants in re-evaluating wage structures to maintain equitable hierarchies following mandatory salary increases.

The latter part of the seminar shifted focus to operational efficiency. Supervising Labor & Employment Officer Ms. Jo-ann M. Borja and Labor & Employment Officer III Ms. Marilyn G. Tul-o led a training session on “Green Productivity Towards Greener Industrialization”. They introduced strategies for MSMEs to integrate productivity improvement techniques with environmental protection, helping businesses reduce waste, save resources, and enhance competitiveness in an increasingly eco-conscious market.

This initiative by the RTWPB-CAR aims to equip local enterprises with the knowledge to remain compliant with the latest minimum wage orders while transitioning towards greener and more sustainable industrialization. (Albert M. Palma)