The 2026 Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Bicol Human Resource (HR) Conference brought together human resource practitioners, business leaders, government representatives, and development partners on March 8, 2026 in Legazpi City to discuss strategies for strengthening workplace programs and employee welfare. With the theme “From Compliance to Commitment: Transforming HR Managers into Strategic Family Welfare Program (FWP) Partners,” the conference highlighted the vital role of HR managers in promoting healthy, productive, and family-centered workplaces, while bringing together over...

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-V (RTWPB-V) has officially implemented the first tranche of the new minimum wage increase for private sector workers in the Bicol Region, granting a ₱20 daily increase, from ₱435 to ₱455, effective April 8, 2026. The wage adjustment provides immediate relief to minimum wage earners across the region as they cope with the rising costs of basic goods and services. This initial increase forms part of the total wage adjustment package approved by the Board under Wage Order No. RBV-23. The Board emphasized that the ₱20 increase is intended to provide...

Legazpi City, Albay – The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-V (RTWPB-V) continues to strengthen productivity and business sustainability among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Bicol region through a series of productivity trainings slated for March 2026. The lineup of activities began with the successful conduct of the Service Quality and Building Customer Advocacy Training on March 12, 2026 in Bulan, Sorsogon. The training equipped participants with practical strategies to enhance service delivery, improve customer satisfaction, and build long-term customer loyalty,...

Public consultations held in Catanduanes and Masbate, on January 30 and February 13, 2026 respectively, have laid the groundwork for a potential minimum wage adjustment in the Bicol Region, following active and balanced participation from both labor and management sectors. The consultations resulted in clear, constructive inputs from stakeholders, reflecting the respective positions of workers and employers on the proposed wage increase. DOLE Regional Director and RTWPB-V Chairperson Imelda F. Gatinao commended the openness demonstrated by both labor and management sectors during the consultations....

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-V (Bicol) is calling on workers, employers, and other concerned stakeholders to take part in the upcoming public hearings on the proposed minimum wage adjustment for private-sector workers in the region. The RTWPB-V emphasized that broad participation is essential to ensuring a transparent, evidence-based, and inclusive wage-setting process. According to DOLE Regional Director and RTWPB-V Chairperson Imelda F. Gatinao, active stakeholder strengthens the integrity of wage determination in the region. “Active participation in the public hearing...

To kick start the year 2026, the RTWPB–Bicol is set to roll out productivity training programs aimed at strengthening the competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Bicol Region. As part of this initiative, RTWPB–Bicol invites MSMEs from Catanduanes and Masbate to participate in the upcoming Productivity Training Programs, designed to equip enterprises with practical tools and strategies to improve business operations and prepare for disruptions. The scheduled training programs are as follows: PROVINCETRAININGDATE AND TIMEVENUECATANDUANESInventory...