The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced Monday that it is pursuing legal channels to implement the ₱85 daily wage increase for minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region (NCR) as soon as judicial clearance is granted for Wage Order No. 27.
Acting Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino stated that the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) submitted a Motion to Resolve on September 3, requesting the court to immediately rule on the pending legal challenge surrounding the pay adjustment.
The move follows an Urgent Motion for Reconsideration Ad Cautelam filed on August 17, as well as the opposing petitioners’ failure to post a mandatory ₱10-billion bond.
During the agency’s budget hearing, Tolentino reaffirmed his support for the pay increase, citing the financial pressures faced by workers.
“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.
Tolentino clarified that DOLE cannot unilaterally enforce Wage Order No. 27 while an active court injunction remains in place, noting that authority over the status of the injunction lies exclusively with the judicial branch.
“Kung walang bond, walang writ. Subalit ang dapat magsabi po nito ay hindi ako kundi ang Supreme Court o ang husgado,” Tolentino added.
DOLE emphasized that it chose to formally petition the court for a resolution rather than bypass the existing injunction, a step taken to avoid potential contempt of court charges against the department.