Minimum wage earners in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Regions IVB (MIMAROPA), IX (Zamboanga Peninsula), and XIII (Caraga) will receive wage increases this December and in January 2026, following the issuance of Wage Orders by their respective Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs).

Wage Order Nos. CAR-24 and CAR-DW-07 shall take effect on 30 December 2025 followed by Wage Order Nos. RB-MIMAROPA-13, RB-MIMAROPA-DW-06, and Wage Order No. RIX-24 on 01 January 2026. Meanwhile, Wage Order No. RXIII-20 and Wage Order No. RXIII-DW-06 shall take effect on 03 January 2026.

This will cover an estimated 122,378 minimum wage earners and 72,983 domestic workers. All wage orders shall take effect fifteen (15) days after their publication on 14, 16 and 18 December 2025, respectively. They were reviewed and affirmed by the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) on 10 December 2025.

In CAR, the approved daily minimum wage rates in all sectors will increase by ₱35, which will bring the minimum wage to ₱505, equivalent to [₱13,172] per month.

In MIMAROPA, the approved daily minimum wage rates in all sectors with 10 workers and above will increase by ₱25 while the approved daily minimum wage rates in all sectors with less than 10 workers will increase by ₱51. These increases will bring the daily minimum wage rates in all sectors to ₱455, equivalent to [₱11,868] per month.

In Zamboanga Peninsula, the daily minimum wage rates in all sectors will increase by ₱50. Upon implementation of all tranches, this increase will bring the minimum wage to ₱451 in agricultural establishments (including retail/service establishments employing 1-9 workers), equivalent to [₱11,764] per month. For non-agriculture establishments (including retail/service establishments employing 10 workers or more), the minimum wage will increase to ₱464 a day, equivalent to [₱12,103] per month.

In Caraga, the daily minimum wage rates in all sectors will increase by ₱40. Upon implementation of all tranches, this increase will bring the minimum wage to ₱475 for the non-agriculture, agriculture, service/retail, and manufacturing sectors, equivalent to [₱12,390] per month.

About 635,687 full-time wage and salary workers earning above the minimum wage are also expected to indirectly benefit from wage adjustments at the enterprise level in CAR, MIMAROPA, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Caraga, arising from the correction of wage distortions. Wage distortions occur when the implementation of a mandated wage increase (i.e. wage order) results in the elimination or severe contraction of intentional quantitative differences in wage or salary rates between and among employee groups in an establishment. NWPC Advisory No. 01, Series of 2023, provides guidance to correct possible wage distortions.

Meanwhile, kasambahays (domestic workers) in CAR, MIMAROPA, and Caraga will also receive monthly increases of ₱600, ₱500, and ₱500, respectively. This will raise the sector’s monthly minimum wage rate in the region to ₱6,600 in CAR; ₱7,000 in MIMAROPA; and ₱6,500 in Caraga.

The new wage orders align with the continuing directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for the timely and regular review of regional minimum wage rates to reduce uncertainty, enhance fairness for all stakeholders, and foster a stronger link between productivity and wages.

In deciding the amount of minimum wage increases in these regions, the RTWPBs balanced the rights of workers to be protected from unduly low pay and of employers to reasonable profits, as well as the overall development objectives of promoting employment and productivity and preventing inflation.

Retail and service establishments regularly employing not more than ten (10) workers and enterprises affected by natural calamities and/or human-induced disasters may apply for exemption from the wage increase until 27 February 2026 in CAR, 01 March 2026 in MIMAROPA and IX; and 03 March 2026 in Caraga. Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) with valid Certificates of Authority from the Department of Trade and Industry are not covered by the minimum wage law.

DOLE will undertake a massive information campaign to ensure public awareness and will closely monitor compliance with the wage orders through labor inspections. The RTWPBs will also conduct information campaigns to ensure compliance among employers and enterprises. For further clarifications, RTWPBs CAR, MIMAROPA, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Caraga can be reached through rbcar@www.aliflora.vip rb4b@www.aliflora.vip, rb9@www.aliflora.vip, and rb13@www.aliflora.vip, respectively.