Jolo Revilla welcomes Metro Manila wage hike, but seeks wider impact

MANILA, Philippines — While he welcomes the minimum wage increase that will be implemented in Metro Manila, Cavite Rep. Jolo Revilla believes there has to be a wider implementation of the adjustments, that would include other areas outside of the National Capital Region (NCR).

In a statement on Wednesday, Revilla said that the P85 per day wage increase is a long overdue move, but one that is also a positive step in improving the purchasing power of Filipinos.

“We commend DOLE [Department of Labor and Employment] and the NCR Wage Board for this important step, but we must also ensure that workers in nearby regions who face similar economic pressures are not left behind,” Revilla said.

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According to Revilla, just in Calabarzon — the region he hails from — pay disparity is felt already despite being near Metro Manila, as both areas feel the impact of inflation but Region IV-A workers receive less pay.

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On Tuesday, Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino announced an P85 increase in the minimum wages of workers based in Metro Manila, marking the largest wage hike ever approved by the NCR’s wage board.

Tolentino said around 1.1 million daily earners are expected to benefit from the “historic” increase.

“For the agricultural sector, service, and retail establishments such as this one, which have 15 or fewer employees, and manufacturing establishments in Metro Manila with fewer than 10 workers, the wage will increase from P658 to P743,” Tolentino said in Filipino.

READ: Dole: ‘Historic’ P85 wage hike set for Metro Manila workers

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The wage increase was announced while the House of Representatives’ committee on labor and employment — which Revilla heads — was tackling bills seeking a legislated minimum wage hike.

Revilla said that the committee will continue to tackle the bills even if Congress is in recess.

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READ: Workers hit staggered wage hike: Why? Do we pay groceries in tranches?

“As chairperson of the House committee on labor and employment, we led the discussions on proposed bills seeking to elevate the quality of life and the welfare of each Filipino worker,” Revilla said in Filipino.

“While Congress’ session is on a recess, we will continue to work to listen and resolve the critical issues faced by the labor sector,” he added.

While Revilla welcomed the wage hike announced by Tolentino, labor leaders who attended the committee hearing questioned the government’s decision to provide the “historic” P85 daily wage increase in two batches, asking whether they should pay for utilities and goods in tranches too.

In an ambush interview on Tuesday, Rene Magtubo of the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition said that the P85 wage hike is not enough to cover the rise in the price of basic necessities as brought by higher inflation rates, amid the oil crisis due to the Middle East conflict.

Moreover, Magtubo said the decision to implement the P85 minimum wage hike in two batches — first, P60 by July 19, 2026, and the remaining P25 effective January 2027 — is an added insult as workers do not have the option to pay for power, fares, and other goods in tranches.

“The P85 staggered wage order for NCR is an insult and a means to lowball workers when it comes to their salaries.  This is not enough to recover the lost purchasing power of the workers’ salaries, brought by inflation,” Magtubo said.

“We are not allowed to pay our electric bills in portions.  We are not allowed to pay our fares in tranches.  We are also not given the chance to pay for our groceries on an installment basis, that’s why this is both an insult and a lowball,” he added.

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Former Anakpawis lawmaker Ariel Casilao, now national chairperson of the Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura, also noted that the minimum wage hike in NCR would not translate to better pay for agricultural workers, since the said industry does not exist in the capital. /jpv