Workers across Cagayan Valley are set to receive a long-awaited pay boost, as the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) Region 2 approved a new wage order that takes effect on November 5, 2025.
The adjustment raises the daily minimum wage to P500 for both non-agricultural and agricultural workers, a P20 increase for non-farm employees and P40 for those in agriculture. The wage order aims to help workers better cope with the rising cost of living in the region.
RELATED: [DENR Honors Region 2's Environmental Leaders]
Wage Board Acts on Proactive Review
According to Labor Regional Director and RTWPB Chairman Jesus Elpidio Atal Jr., the wage increase was the result of a proactive wage review initiated on June 17, 2025, even without formal petitions from labor groups or employers.
“After assessing regional socioeconomic conditions, worker needs, and employer capacity, we deemed this adjustment necessary,” Atal explained, citing Section 3(A) of the Omnibus Rules on Minimum Wage Determination.
The increase also extends to domestic workers, or kasambahay, who will receive a P500 monthly raise, bringing their minimum monthly wage to P6,500. Both live-in and live-out domestic workers across Cagayan Valley’s provinces—including Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, and Batanes—will benefit from the new rate.
Keeping Pace with Rising Costs
Atal emphasized that the wage hike aligns with the government’s efforts to support workers amid increasing living expenses and inflation.
“This increase is not just about numbers, it’s about dignity and keeping pace with inflation,” Atal said in a statement.
RTWPB data show that the region’s cost of living has risen by 7–12 percent year-on-year, placing pressure on minimum-wage households. The move also reflects President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Labor Day call for timely and regionally responsive wage reviews.
“This is not charity, it is fairness,” Atal noted. “We trust employers will recognize the value of investing in their workers’ well-being.”
Boost for Regional Workers and Economy
The wage hike is expected to bring immediate relief to thousands of low-income earners across Cagayan Valley. With stronger purchasing power, workers can better support household needs such as food, education, and transportation, while businesses may benefit from higher consumer spending in the long term.
Economists note that the measure could help sustain local economic momentum, particularly in growth areas like Tuguegarao, Cauayan, Ilagan, and Santiago, where wage earners form a significant part of the consumer base. For many families, the increase marks not only a step toward fair compensation, but also a renewed sense of stability and optimism in the region’s labor landscape.
RELATED: [Cagayan Valley, Quirino Farmers Get P42.95M Equipment Upgrade]
