Labor groups in Central Visayas on Friday filed a petition seeking a P100 across-the-board daily wage increase, citing rising global oil prices and persistent inflation that they said have eroded workers’ purchasing power.
The coalition, led by Partidong Manggagawa and Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa, submitted the petition to the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board Central Visayas as an emergency measure to cushion workers from the economic impact of higher fuel costs and increasing prices of basic goods and services.
Workers gathered outside the Department of Labor and Employment Central Visayas office in Cebu City before the filing, carrying banners calling for higher wages, lower prices, a P200 wage increase as a solution to rising costs, and the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law.
Other petitioners included Globalwear Employees Union–Piglas Organization of Metrowear Employees for Genuine Advocacy, Progressive Labor Union of Hyde Sails MEPZA Workers Alliance, Workers Organization of Lami Foods, Prince Warehouse Club Mandaue Employees Union, and the National Union of Food Delivery Riders, among others.
The groups said rising global oil prices had increased transportation, logistics, electricity, and production costs, triggering a domino effect that pushed up the prices of basic goods and services.
They added that the minimum wage remains below the required subsistence level, leaving workers unable to cope with higher costs of food, transportation, and utilities.
“While wage orders are ordinarily reviewed subject to time limitations, the present Petition is filed under exceptional and urgent circumstances, namely the global oil price shock and inflationary surge arising from the ongoing Middle East crisis, which has materially affected the cost of living,” the petition stated.
“The minimum wage remains below the required subsistence level, and workers are unable to cope with increased costs of food, transportation, and utilities,” it added.
At present, the minimum wage in Central Visayas ranges from P500 to P540 per day depending on the sector.
The groups said the gap between income and expenditures has widened due to inflation aggravated by the global crisis.
“The proposed increase is necessary to restore lost purchasing power and cushion the impact of inflation,” the petition further stated.
The groups said ongoing global oil supply disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions and armed conflicts in the Middle East directly increased production and transportation costs, further driving up prices.
The petition also noted that water bills in Metro Cebu were set to increase by P23 per billing cycle effective April 1, 2026, due to a supplemental rate adjustment implemented by the Metropolitan Cebu Water District.
The coalition proposed that the P100 daily wage increase cover all sectors, including non-agriculture and agriculture, service and retail establishments employing 15 workers or less, and small manufacturing industries regularly employing less than 10 workers.
The petitioners emphasized that granting the adjustment would restore lost purchasing power, stimulate local economic activity, and benefit small and medium enterprises, while fulfilling the constitutional mandate on living wages.
Under the existing wage order that took effect on October 4, 2025, the daily minimum wage is set at P540 in Class A areas and P500 in Class B areas.
Class A covers the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Carcar, Danao, Naga, and Talisay, as well as nearby municipalities in Metro Cebu, while Class B includes Bohol and other provinces outside Metro Cebu.
