P13 COLA integration to take effect Dec. 14

MANILA, Philippines - The integration of the P13 per day cost of living allowance into the basic pay of minimum wage earners in the private sector in Central Visayas will take effect on December 14, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-7 said.

Aside from the COLA, Wage Order VII-18 (Providing for Cost of Living Allowance for Private Sector Workers in Central Visayas) also stipulates that there shall be no increase in the minimum wage rates due to two major calamities that struck Bogo City and the towns of San Remigio, Medellin, Tabuelan, Tabogon, Tuburan, Daanbantayan, Sogod, Borbon, Camotes Island and Bantayan Island, as well as Bohol province.

Grace Carreon, Board Secretary of RTWPB-7, said establishments that have not recovered from the calamities may apply for exemption as “under distress establishments” within 72 days.

If the establishments fail to get an exemption within this timeframe, they will be forced to give additional P13 to their workers, said RTWPB-7 chairman Exequil Sarcauga.

“Requirements will also be attached sa application for that but they can start to apply after sa implementation date,” Sarcauga said.

So far, RTWPB has not received any petition for a wage hike.

Covered by Wage Order VII-18 are the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue with a basic pay of P340 per day, and component cities in Cebu province with a basic pay of P320.

The provinces of Bohol and Negros Oriental have a basic pay of P310 per day while the island Bantayan and Camotes, as well as the island province of Siquijor have a basic pay of P295.

RTWPB decided to integrate the P13 COLA into the basic pay following four public hearings in the region. The decision was forwarded to the National Wages and Productivity Commission for approval.

The wage board is composed of two representatives each from the labor and management sector, and the regional directors from DOLE-7, Department of Trade and Industry-7 and the National Economic Development Authority-7. – (FREEMAN)