The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-VIII has announced the full implementation of the final tranche of a P35 minimum wage increase in Eastern Visayas, effective June 1, 2026. This adjustment completes Wage Order No. RBVIII-25, which was approved in November 2025 and phased in to ease the burden on employers. With this increase, the new daily minimum wage for non-agriculture workers and employees in larger service and retail establishments is set at P470, while workers in smaller establishments and agriculture will earn P440 per day. This wage adjustment, the first since 2023, was influenced by economic indicators such as a P444 poverty threshold for a family of five and a 0.68 percent regional inflation rate. The RTWPB VIII aims to assist workers in coping with rising living costs while ensuring business sustainability. However, the region's labor force participation rate has decreased from 63.6 percent in 2024 to 60.5 percent in 2025, highlighting ongoing economic challenges.