Private employees in Central Mindanao to get higher allowance

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Workers of private establishments in Central Mindanao are set to receive  an additional P4 to P6 additional Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) from employers starting December 1.

Chona Mantilla, director of the Department of Labor and Employment for Region 12, said the additional COLA is the second tranche of allowance increase based on a wage order issued April by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB).

Mantilla said the increase is the second part of the tranche, from P6 to P8 daily, that took effect last April.

Mantilla said the additional COLA was based on Wage Order XII-17, issued for the benefit of private workers in the South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sagangani-Gen. Santos City (Soccskargen) Area.

Region 12 also covers the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Tacurong and North Cotabato province.

At present, workers in the region’s non-agriculture sector are receiving a daily wage of P270. Workers in the agriculture sector receive a daily pay of P248. Non-plantation workers receive a daily take home pay of P243.

Those working in the retail and service establishments employing at least 10 workers ought to receive P246 daily per worker, while firms with less than 10 workers should pay their employees P240 daily wage each.

Mantilla said beginning December 1, workers in agriculture plantations should have a take home pay of P252 each, while those working in the non-plantation firms must each be paid P249 daily.

Workers in the retail and service establishments with more than 10 employees should also start receiving a daily take home pay of P250 by December 1.

Those employed by establishments with less than 10 workers should have a daily wage of P246.

Mantilla said DOLE 12 is now studying the possibility of implementing the provision of productivity-based incentives for workers.