Wage hikes effective in Northern Mindanao, Caraga this Labor Day

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced on Labor Day that minimum wage earners in Northern Mindanao (Region 10) and Caraga (Region 13) will start receiving higher pay beginning Friday, May 1, 2026. Speaking during the Labor Day celebration held here, the Chief Executive highlighted the government’s continuous efforts to improve workers’ welfare, noting that a total of 89 wage orders have been approved by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards from June 2023 up to April this year. “Kabilang dito ang wage hikes na epektibo ngayong araw, tulad ng sa Region 10 at sa Region 13,” Marcos stated, emphasizing that the adjustments are part of broader measures aimed at ensuring fair compensation and better living conditions for the country’s workforce.

Under the new wage order, daily minimum rates in Northern Mindanao now range from ₱485 to ₱500, following the implementation of the second tranche of increases amounting to ₱14. This adjustment builds on the first tranche which took effect last January 16, 2026, when wages were raised by ₱25, bringing the previous range from ₱471 to ₱486. In the Caraga region, meanwhile, the daily minimum wage has been set at ₱475 after the second tranche of a ₱20 increase was enforced. The first phase of the adjustment in the area was implemented on January 3 this year, also amounting to ₱20, which initially brought the rate to ₱455. “Ang arawang sahod ng manggagawa sa lugar na ito ay tumaas na sa ₱500 at ₱475,” the President added, referring to the respective increases in the two regions.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) further disclosed that more regions are scheduled to receive their second tranche of wage hikes in the coming months. In Eastern Visayas, an additional ₱18 will be added to the minimum wage effective June 1, while the Zamboanga Peninsula will see a ₱25 increase also starting on the same date. Later this year, wage adjustments will likewise take effect in the Bicol Region and the Davao Region, completing the multi-phase approach designed to gradually raise income levels while balancing the capacity of businesses and industries to pay.

These staggered adjustments are part of the government’s strategy to address rising costs of living without placing excessive burden on employers, particularly micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. By implementing the increases in tranches and through regional wage boards, authorities aim to tailor adjustments based on local economic conditions, ensuring that wage rates remain responsive to both the needs of workers and the realities of the business environment. The President reiterated that these measures reflect the administration’s commitment to valuing labor as a vital sector of the economy, and vowed to continue pushing for policies that promote decent work, fair pay, and inclusive growth across all regions of the country.