New Minimum Wage Rates in Western Visayas and SOCCSKSARGEN Take Effect November 19 — Here Are the Amounts
MINIMUM WAGE HIKE 2026 – Minimum wage earners in Western Visayas and SOCCSKSARGEN will soon take home bigger daily pay after the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced on Tuesday, November 3, the approval of new wage orders for the two regions.
Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) approved the increases following consultations between workers and employers, Daily Tribune reported. The new rates will take effect on November 19, 2026.
Western Visayas New Minimum Wage (Wage Order No. VI-30)
Workers in Western Visayas will get a ₱40 to ₱45 daily increase starting November 19. Based on the figures reported by Daily Tribune and GMA News, here are the new rates:
- Non-agriculture, industrial and commercial establishments with more than 10 workers – ₱590 a day (from ₱550)
- Establishments with 10 workers or fewer – ₱565 a day (from ₱525)
- Agriculture workers – ₱565 a day (from ₱520)
- Domestic workers (kasambahay) – ₱7,000 a month (from ₱6,500) under Wage Order No. VI-DW-08
DOLE said the adjustment will benefit around 193,000 minimum wage earners and 161,000 domestic workers in the region. According to Tolentino, the new rates will make Western Visayas second only to Metro Manila in terms of minimum wage levels.
SOCCSKSARGEN New Minimum Wage (Wage Order No. XII-26)
In SOCCSKSARGEN, the approved ₱41 daily increase will be given in two tranches:
- First tranche (November 19, 2026) – ₱16 a day, raising the minimum wage to ₱476 for non-agriculture, retail and service workers and ₱459 for agriculture workers
- Second tranche (January 1, 2027) – ₱25 a day, raising the minimum wage to ₱501 for non-agriculture workers and ₱484 for agriculture workers
- Domestic workers (kasambahay) – a ₱450 monthly increase, bringing the monthly minimum wage to ₱6,450 under Wage Order No. XII-DW-06
Around 209,000 minimum wage earners and 28,000 domestic workers in SOCCSKSARGEN are expected to benefit from the new wage orders, DOLE said.
Quick Summary of the New Rates
| Region / Sector | Old Rate | New Rate | Effectivity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Visayas – non-agri (more than 10 workers) | ₱550/day | ₱590/day | Nov. 19, 2026 |
| Western Visayas – 10 workers or fewer | ₱525/day | ₱565/day | Nov. 19, 2026 |
| Western Visayas – agriculture | ₱520/day | ₱565/day | Nov. 19, 2026 |
| Western Visayas – kasambahay | ₱6,500/month | ₱7,000/month | Nov. 19, 2026 |
| SOCCSKSARGEN – non-agri (1st tranche) | ₱460/day | ₱476/day | Nov. 19, 2026 |
| SOCCSKSARGEN – agriculture (1st tranche) | ₱443/day | ₱459/day | Nov. 19, 2026 |
| SOCCSKSARGEN – non-agri (2nd tranche) | ₱476/day | ₱501/day | Jan. 1, 2027 |
| SOCCSKSARGEN – agriculture (2nd tranche) | ₱459/day | ₱484/day | Jan. 1, 2027 |
Central Luzon Could Be Next
Tolentino also said Central Luzon could be the next region in line for a minimum wage increase, according to Daily Tribune. No amount or schedule has been announced yet for the region.
Workers who will not receive the correct rate once the new wage orders take effect may report the concern to DOLE through its new 24/7 hotline 15/30, which the department launched on the same day to replace the old 1349 hotline, GMA News reported.
Are you a minimum wage earner in Western Visayas or SOCCSKSARGEN? Is the new rate enough to cover your daily expenses?
