The wage increase the regional wage board recently gave to workers in Region 5 (Bicol) is extremely small. The agency announced on March 25 the addition of ₱40 to the daily wage in the region, which will raise the salary of 100,414 workers receiving the minimum of ₱395 to ₱435/day. This is far from the regional living wage set at ₱1194/per day for February.

Even with the ₱40 increase, the wage in the region is still lower compared to the national average of ₱469 and especially to the national average living wage of ₱1,227. Worse, in reality, workers will only receive ₱20 for most of the year. This is because the wage order will be implemented in two tranches: the first ₱20 on April 10, and the second ₱20 they will only get on December 3. There was no wage increase in Bicol last year.

In 2024, inflation in the region hit 3.5%, higher than the national average of 3.2%. Inflation here slightly decreased to 3.2% in February, but as in many parts of the country, the prices of basic commodities remained high.

In February, the price of rice remained at ₱44/kilo and above, contrary to the regime’s promises to lower it to ₱25/kilo. In Bicol, the price of rice being sold reaches up to ₱62/kilo. The prices of pork, fish, and most vegetables also remained high.