TO: All Member Companies, General Managers, Plant Managers, HR Directors & Payroll Administrators
FROM: MEPZCEM Chamber, Inc.
DATE: September 27, 2026
SUBJECT: OFFICIAL ADVISORY: Approved Regional Minimum Wage Increase (Wage Order No. ROVII-25)
1. OVERVIEW & ANNOUNCEMENT
Please be informed that the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board VII (RTWPB-VII), in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC), has officially approved a ₱42.00 per day minimum wage increase across Central Visayas (Region VII).
The formal update was announced during the visit of DOLE Acting Secretary and NWPC Chairperson Francis Tolentino in Cebu City.
2. APPROVED WAGE STRUCTURE & RATES
The approved wage order adjusts daily rates for non-agricultural and agricultural workers, as well as monthly minimum compensation for domestic workers across the region as follows:
| Classification | Covered Locations / Scope | Current Rate | Approved Hike | New Daily / Monthly Rate |
| Class A Areas | Expanded Metro Cebu: Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Talisay City, Naga City, Carcar City, Danao City, San Fernando, Minglanilla, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, and Cordova | ₱540.00 / day | +₱42.00 | ₱582.00 / day |
| Class B Areas | All other cities and municipalities in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor | ₱500.00 / day | +₱42.00 | ₱542.00 / day |
| Domestic Workers (Kasambahays) | Region-wide coverage across Central Visayas | ₱7,000.00 / mo | +₱500.00 | ₱7,500.00 / month |
3. EFFECTIVITY DATE & IMPLEMENTATION
- Official Publication: September 28, 2026
- Effectivity Date: October 14, 2026 (15 calendar days following publication)
- Coverage: Mandatory for all private-sector minimum wage earners in Region VII, regardless of their position, designation, or employment status.
4. GUIDANCE & ACTION ITEMS FOR MEMBER LOCATORS
- Payroll & System Adjustments: Human Resources and IT/Payroll teams are advised to reconfigure automated wage scales and timekeeping systems prior to October 14, 2026.
- Correction of Wage Distortion: Member companies with existing wage structures above the new minimum rates are advised to review pay scales and address potential wage distortions in accordance with Article 124 of the Labor Code.
- Statutory Application for Exemptions: Micro-enterprises employing not more than ten (10) workers or retail/service establishments regularly employing fewer than ten (10) workers seeking exemption must file applications directly with RTWPB-VII within the prescribed period under NWPC guidelines.
5. OFFICIAL LINKS & REFERENCE RESOURCES
For additional details, media updates, and official guidelines, please consult the following references:
- 📰 Cebu Daily News: ₱42 Wage Hike Approved for Central Visayas Workers
- 📰 Inquirer News: Central Visayas Minimum Wage to Rise by ₱42 Per Day
- 🌐 DOLE-NWPC Official Portal: National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC)