Twenty-one senators across party lines have signed a resolution urging the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) to immediately lift the temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking the implementation of the P85 daily minimum wage increase in Metro Manila.
The senators signed Senate Resolution No. 577, filed by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, expressing the chamber’s support for the legal efforts of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to implement Wage Order No. NCR-27, which was temporarily halted by the court.
In the resolution dated August 4, the senators invoked Article 126 of the Labor Code, which prohibits courts from issuing TROs or injunctions against wage increases issued by regional wage boards.
“Hindi puwedeng ang isang petisyon ng iilan ang magpapahintay sa mahigit 1.1 milyong manggagawa at kanilang mga pamilya,” Zubiri said in a press release on Wednesday.
“I moved around and gathered signatures for cross-aisle support from all members of the majority and minority so the Senate can state clearly that the wage board’s decision should be final. It should be implemented and respected by the courts,” he added.
Zubiri said the resolution reflects the Senate’s position that wage board decisions should be respected and implemented, warning that allowing court challenges to delay wage increases could set a precedent for future wage adjustments in other regions.
He cited that employers could potentially seek court intervention whenever wage increases are granted, saying this could undermine the authority of wage boards.
The first tranche of the approved P85 daily wage increase, amounting to P60, took effect on July 25, raising the minimum wage for non-agricultural workers in the National Capital Region to P780. The remaining P25 increase is scheduled to take effect on January 20, 2027, bringing the wage rate for other covered sectors to P743.
However, Pasig City RTC Branch 152 issued a TRO on July 30 suspending the implementation of the wage hike until August 13 following a petition filed by two construction companies, Readycon Trading and Construction Corp. and R-II Builders Inc.
