The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Monday said it is taking the necessary legal steps to implement the ₱85 wage increase for minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region (NCR) once the court allows the implementation of Wage Order No. 27.

Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino said the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) had already filed a Motion to Resolve before the court on September 3, seeking the immediate resolution of the case involving the wage order.

This followed the filing of an Urgent Motion for Reconsideration Ad Cautelam on August 17 and the failure of those opposing the wage order to post the ₱10-billion bond.

“Naniniwala rin po ako na karapatan ng manggagawang Pilipino sa National Capital Region na matagal kong pinaglingkuran sa Metro Manila na makatanggap na sila ng karapat-dapat na umento dahil sa taas na ng presyo ng bilihin, kuryente,” Tolentino said during the agency's budget hearing.

The labor chief clarified that DOLE cannot unilaterally implement the wage order while a court-issued injunction remains in effect, stressing that only the court has the authority to decide whether the injunction will remain, be lifted, or amended.

“Kung walang bond, walang writ. Subalit ang dapat magsabi po nito ay hindi ako kundi ang Supreme Court o ang husgado,” Tolentino said.

DOLE said it chose to seek an official resolution from the court instead of disregarding the injunction and risking contempt of court.