by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

Cagayan de Oro City (19 November) -- A ten-peso (P10) additional daily cost of living allowance (COLA) took effect Nov. 16, this year, for all private sector workers or employees in Northern Mindanao.

The increase was covered by Wage Order No. RX-13 signed Oct. 24, 2007 by members of the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (PTWPB) in the region, Regional Director Alan M. Macaraya of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-10) said.

Macaraya, RTWPB-10 Chairperson, said granting such increase resulted from the public hearing, provincial consultations and study made by RTWPB taking into consideration the different socio-economic factors, such as, the consumer price index, poverty threshold and family living wage.

Under Republic Act No. 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act, the RTWPB is mandated to determine and fix the minimum wage rates in the respective regions by going thru the processes and or mechanisms in minimum wage fixing.

In April, this year, ALU-TUCP filed a petition for a Php75 per day across the board wage increase but Macaraya explained the RTWPB had to conduct the consultations on the amount of increase without impairing the viability of the business establishments.

"Based on the consultations, RTWPB decided the increase is consistent with the government's policy of achieving higher levels of productivity to promote economic growth and generate employment and to augment the income of workers, there is a need to build the capacity of business enterprises to be competitive through productivity improvement and gain sharing programs, he added.

Meanwhile, with the implementation of WO RX-13, the COLA of these workers in the region have been raised to Php26 per day, thus, their new minimum wage rates in areas covered by the different Wage Categories are as follows:

I - Cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan and Tagoloan, Villanueva and Jasaan, towns of Misamis Oriental: Php244 for non-agricultural and Php232 for agricultural.

II - Cities of Malaybalay, Valencia, Gingoog, El Salvador and Ozamiz and Maramag, Quezon and Manolo Fortich towns of Bukidnon: Php239 for non-agricultural and P227 for agricultural.

III - Cities of Oroquita and Tangub and Lugait and Opol towns in Mis. Or. and Mambajao in Camiguin: Php234 for non-agricultural and Php222 for agricultural.

IV - All other areas not covered under the above categories: Php229 for non-agricultural Php217 for agricultural.

On the other hand, the wage rates for agricultural workers in areas covered by Category V or The Sugar Agricultural Industry will follow the applicable "pakyaw rates," regardless of geographical location.

Macaraya said WO RX-13 will apply to all minimum wage earners in the private sector in the region, regardless of their position, designation or status and irrespective of the method by which their wages are paid.