Photo courtesy: National Wages and Productivity Commission
ZAMBOANGA CITY (December 18) — Private sector and domestic workers in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Mimaropa regions are set to receive higher pay in 2026 after their respective wage boards approved new salary adjustments aimed at easing rising living costs.
In the Zamboanga Peninsula, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board IX approved Wage Order RIX-24, granting a two-tranche increase for minimum wage earners in the private sector.
“The new minimum wage rate in Zamboanga Peninsula will be effective by 1 January 2026 and on 1 June 2026,” the wage board said.
For non-agricultural establishments, the daily minimum wage will rise by ₱25 on January 1, 2026—from ₱414 to ₱439—followed by another ₱25 increase on June 1, bringing the rate to ₱464.
Workers in agricultural establishments will also receive ₱25 increases on the same dates, raising daily pay from ₱401 to ₱426 in January and to ₱451 by June.
Labor officials said the staggered implementation is meant to help businesses adjust while ensuring workers receive meaningful wage relief within the year.
Meanwhile, workers in Mimaropa will see a broader adjustment covering both private sector and domestic workers, following the approval of Wage Orders RB-Mimaropa-13 and RB-Mimaropa-DW-06 by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board IV-B.
Under Wage Order RB-Mimaropa-13, private sector workers will receive increases that will standardize the daily minimum wage across establishments. Companies with 10 workers and above will grant a ₱25 increase, while those with fewer than 10 workers will implement a ₱51 hike.
This will bring the current rates of ₱430 and ₱404, respectively, to a uniform daily minimum wage of ₱455.
Domestic workers in the region will also benefit from a ₱500 monthly increase, with wages rising from ₱6,500 to ₱7,000 following the approval of Wage Order RB-Mimaropa-DW-06.
The Mimaropa wage board said both wage orders will take effect on January 1, 2026.
“The new minimum wage rate in Mimaropa will be effective by 1 January 2026,” it said.
Labor groups welcomed the adjustments, saying they provide modest but timely relief to workers, while employers noted that the phased and standardized approach could help businesses plan ahead as the new rates take effect in the coming year.
