By Brian Campued
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Francis Tolentino on Tuesday announced that daily wages in the National Capital Region (NCR) will increase by P85, the largest single daily minimum wage increase enacted in Metro Manila.
During a forum with market vendors and construction workers in Malabon City, Tolentino noted that over 1.1 million private sector workers in NCR will benefit from the wage hike.
“Bilang pagsunod din sa tagubilin ng ating mahal na Pangulong [Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.], itinataas po natin ang suweldo ng lahat ng manggagawa dito sa Metro Manila… Itinataas po natin sa isang makasaysayang P85 increase,” the Labor chief said.
According to DOLE and the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, the daily minimum wage increase for NCR workers will be implemented in two tranches—P60 effective July 19 this year and P25 starting Jan. 20, 2027.
This adjustment sets the new daily wage for non-agricultural workers at P755, and for agricultural workers, service/retail businesses with 15 or fewer employees, and manufacturing businesses with fewer than 10 employees at P718 on the first tranche.
When the second tranche takes effect, the non-agricultural rate will reach P780 and the agricultural rate will reach P743.
Under Wage Order No. NCR-27, minimum wage earners in NCR shall receive a daily wage of P780 for non-agriculture sectors, while P743 for agriculture (plantation and non-plantation); service/retail establishments employing 15 workers or less; and manufacturing establishments regularly employing fewer than 10 workers.
Meanwhile, DOLE said other regional wage boards are still conducting reviews and consultations in response to the President’s directive to begin assessments within 60 days before the anniversary dates of their respective latest wage orders.
DOLE previously announced higher daily minimum wages ranging from P485 to P500 for both non-agriculture and agriculture sector workers in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) effective May 1, 2026.
In Caraga, the daily minimum wage increased to P475.
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