East Visayas wage board OKs P7 hike in allowance

TACLOBAN CITY – More than a million workers in Eastern Visayas are to receive P7 in additional pay after the region’s wage board approved a resolution increasing the cost of living allowance (Cola) for the region’s workers.

The regional wage board approved the resolution on Sept. 4.

As a result of the additional Cola, workers in the nonagriculture sector would receive P260 in daily pay from P253. Workers in the agriculture sector would receive P220.50 a day from P213.50.

The last time the regional wage board adjusted pay was in June 2011.

Florencio Aguilos, coordinator of the regional wage board, said the “erosion” of the purchasing power of the peso due to increasing prices of commodities was the main reason for the board’s decision to review current wages and adjust these.

The business sector, especially Tacloban Federation Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has opposed the Cola increase.

Go Tic Ching, head of the business group, said the adjustment was high. Go warned that the Cola increase would lead to retrenchment of workers.

But Aguilos shrugged off the opposition of the business sector, saying that it was an expected reaction from businessmen.

Aguilos said the regional wage board has submitted the Cola increase order for confirmation to the National Wages Productivity Commission.

After the commission confirms the order, it would be published in a newspaper of regional circulation and would take effect 15 days after.