City of San Fernando, PAMPANGA – The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board – Region 3 (RTWPB-3) has successfully wrapped up its series of public consultations across all provinces in Central Luzon which was followed by a public hearing held in Pampanga.
According to Geraldine Panlilio, Department of Labor and Employment Regional Director and RTWPB-3 Chairperson, these activities were initiated in response to a wage increase petition filed by Mardwin Cabais and Analyn Marantal of Central Luzon Workers for Wage Increase.
“These public consultations and hearings aim to assess the merits of the petition from the perspectives of employers, workers, and various stakeholders. The information gathered, along with the inputs provided during presentations by different stakeholders, will be carefully considered during the wage deliberation process,” Panlilio explained.
The public consultation process began on July 18, 2023 in Pampanga and concluded on August 31, 2023 at AMCO Beach Resort in Baler, Aurora. In total, 483 attendees participated, with 228 from the management sector and 255 from the labor sector.
Subsequently, the public hearing held on September 4, 2023 at the Heroes Hall Mini Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga saw the participation of 149 attendees— comprising of 70 representatives from the management sector and 79 representatives from the labor sector.
Meanwhile, Kenneth Liza, RTWPB-3 OIC-Board Secretary, added that following the conclusion of the public consultations and hearing, the wage board will convene to deliberate on the wage petition.
“The secretariat will thoroughly process and review all the inputs gathered during the consultations and hearing, as they play a crucial role in the wage deliberation process. We are committed to addressing all concerns that arose during these activities,” he furthered.
Panlilio also assured that the wage board will take into account the ‘current needs of workers and their families, the capacity of employers to pay, and the socio-economic condition in the region’.
The prevailing minimum wage rates in Central Luzon (except Aurora) range from ₱414 to ₱460, depending on the number of employees and sector. In Aurora, the daily minimum wage rates range from ₱344 to ₱409.
RTWPB-III is comprised of vice-chairpersons, including Nerrisa Esguerra, Regional Director of National and Economic Development Agency Central Luzon (NEDA-3), and Brigida Pili, Regional Director of the Department of Trade and Industry Region 3 (DTI 3). The board also includes private sector representatives from the management, Flordeliza Maria Reyes-Rayel and Marco Nepomuceno, as well as Edgar Ventura and Raul Remodo from the labor sector.
RTWPBs are legally mandated to periodically assess wage rates and conduct ongoing studies that serve as inputs for the determination of minimum wage rates, as may be applicable in the region, its province, or industry.
