The National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) has approved a new wage increase for private sector workers in Northern Mindanao, capping off 2025 with higher pay for thousands of minimum wage earners in the region.
The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in Northern Mindanao (RTWPB-X) granted a P39 increase in daily minimum wages for both non-agriculture and agriculture workers under Wage Categories I and II, to be implemented in two tranches.
Wage Category I covers major urban centers and growth areas, including 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 applies to all other areas in Northern Mindanao not included under Category I and to retail and service establishments employing not more than 10 workers, ensuring broader coverage for small enterprises and rural communities.
Upon full implementation of the wage order, daily minimum wages in the region will range from P485 for Wage Category II to P500 for Wage Category I, providing additional income support to workers amid rising living costs.
The NWPC also affirmed Wage Order RBX-DW-06, which grants a P500 monthly increase for domestic workers across Northern Mindanao, raising their minimum monthly wage to P6,500.
Both wage orders will take effect on January 16, 2026, allowing employers time to prepare for compliance.
According to the NWPC, more than 4.5 million minimum wage earners in the private sector and about 755,000 domestic workers nationwide benefited directly from wage orders issued in 2025, while millions more are expected to gain indirectly through enterprise-level wage adjustments.
