The RTWPB-VII approved on September 11, 2025 a minimum wage increase ranging from PhP 37.00 – PhP 47.00 for private workers and Php1,000.00 to Php2,000.00 for domestic workers in the region.

In Class A, a Php39 increase was granted by the board, increasing the minimum wage rate from Php 501.00 to Php540.00 in the expanded Metro Cebu area. No change in the composition of class A was made.

Conversely, Classes B and C in the previous wage order were granted PhP 37.00 and Php47.00 increases respectively, merging them into one (collectively referred to as Class B under the new Wage Order No. 26) for a uniform Php500.00 minimum wage rate in all areas in the region outside the expanded Metro Cebu, in consonance with the policy to simplify wage structure.

Full details of the Classes, their respective areas of coverage and the new minimum wage rates are indicated in the table below:

It may be recalled that on July 28, 2025, the Board Motu Proprio decided to commence the wage deliberation process. A Notice of Public Hearing was published in The Freeman last August 3, 2025, the 60th day prior to the anniversary of the wage order. Said Notice invited stakeholders to attend the public hearing on the following dates and locations:

The increase was arrived in consideration of several factors such as the positions raised during the August 19, 28 and 29, 2025 public hearings, the wage determination criteria provided under RA 6727 and the economic conditions of the region, particularly the 2023 poverty threshold vis-à-vis the average wage and the trends in inflation/inflation rates.

Pursuant to the provisions on the Omnibus Rules on Minimum Wage Fixing, a copy of the wage order was forwarded to the National Wages and Productivity Commission last September 11, 2025, the Commission affirmed the same on September 17, 2025 and authorized its publication. The wage order is published in The Freeman on September 18, 2025 and will take effect on October 4, 2025 , or after 15 days from publication.

Around 337,476 minimum wage earners in the region will directly benefit from the increase while other workers may be indirectly benefitted due to correction of wage distortions.

Meanwhile, the board also conducted a kasambahay public hearing last August 31, 2025, to assess and determine the propriety of issuing a new wage order for domestic workers.

After a careful and deliberate review and evaluation of the results of the public hearing, existing socio-economic conditions in the region, the needs of the domestic workers and their families, as well as the employers’ capacity to pay, the Board deemed it necessary to increase the prevailing minimum wage rates of domestic workers by granting a PHp 1,000 – 2, 000 increase in order to adopt a uniform wage rate for the kasambahays/ domestic workers.

Upon effectivity of the new wage order, the new monthly minimum wage of domestic workers in the region shall be as follows:

Following the increase, the RTWPB VII Secretariat will conduct information campaigns all over the region to ensure compliance of the wage order, disseminate information and assistance on correcting wage distortion and inform the public on the categories and requirements for possible exemption from the increase.