Metro Manila, Philippines – Minimum wage earners in Northern Mindanao will receive higher pay beginning mid-January 2026 following the approval of new wage orders covering private sector and domestic workers, the Department of Labor and Employment said.
The National Wages and Productivity Commission approved Wage Order No. RX-24 during its Dec. 22 meeting, affirming the adjustment issued by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board for Northern Mindanao.
The order grants a ₱39 increase in daily minimum wages for workers in private establishments under Wage Categories I and II in both agriculture and non-agriculture sectors, to be implemented in two tranches.
Wage Category I includes the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Malaybalay, Valencia, Gingoog, El Salvador and Ozamiz, as well as the municipalities of Tagoloan, Villanueva, Jasaan, Opol, Maramag, Quezon, Manolo Fortich and Lugait.
Wage Category II covers all other areas in the region, including retail and service establishments employing not more than 10 workers.
Upon full implementation, daily minimum wage rates in Northern Mindanao will range from ₱485 for Wage Category II to ₱500 for Wage Category I.
The commission also affirmed Wage Order RBX-DW-06, which provides a ₱500 monthly increase for domestic workers across the region. This brings the minimum monthly wage for domestic workers in Northern Mindanao to ₱6,500.
Both wage orders will be published on Dec. 31, and will take effect on Jan. 16, 2026.
Nationwide wage adjustments in 2025
The approval of the Northern Mindanao wage orders marks the conclusion of regional minimum wage determinations for 2025. A total of 14 wage orders covering private sector workers were issued nationwide in line with the commission’s policy of regular, moderate and predictable wage adjustments.
Daily minimum wage increases ranging from ₱20 to ₱100 were granted in the National Capital Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region, and Regions I, II, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XII and XIII. All wage orders were issued motu proprio, with most approved unanimously by the respective regional wage boards.
The increases were implemented after the anniversary dates of previous wage orders to promote policy stability and help maintain an investment-friendly environment aimed at generating employment.
Regional wage boards in Regions XI and V are expected to begin their wage determination processes in January and February 2026, respectively.
The National Capital Region remains the highest-paying region, with daily minimum wage rates ranging from ₱658 to ₱695.
In addition, 11 wage orders increasing monthly pay for domestic workers were issued in the Cordillera Administrative Region and Regions I, II, III, MIMAROPA, VI, VII, VIII, X, XII and XIII, with adjustments ranging from ₱300 to ₱2,000 per month.
More than 4.5 million private sector minimum wage earners and about 755,000 domestic workers benefited directly from wage orders issued in 2025, DOLE said.
The labor department said wage orders were issued following consultations with labor and employer groups to balance worker protection, reasonable returns on investments and employment generation.
An estimated 8 million full-time workers earning above the minimum wage are also expected to benefit indirectly from enterprise-level wage adjustments resulting from the correction of wage distortions.
