GenSan Becomes a Listening Room for the Region’s Workforce
GENERAL SANTOS CITY - The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board XII continued its wage review consultations in General Santos City on September 3, 2026, gathering perspectives from workers, employers, business groups, and other stakeholders. The consultation, chaired by DOLE XII Regional Director Imelda F. Gatinao according to the supplied LGU reference, gives participating sectors an opportunity to discuss the conditions affecting wages and employment. Rather than announcing a predetermined adjustment, the consultation forms part of a process designed to gather information before decisions are made. That approach allows different sides of the labor market to put their experiences and concerns on the table during the regional review.
Wages Reviewed With More Than One Side in Mind
The consultation is particularly relevant because wage-setting involves balancing several considerations. DOLE has explained that regional wage boards review wage levels according to workers’ needs, prevailing socioeconomic conditions, and employers’ capacity to pay. For Region XII, the current private-sector minimum wage under Wage Order No. RB XII-25 ranges from PHP443 to PHP460, depending on sector, after the second tranche took effect in December 2025. RTWPB XII’s 2026 action plan also includes consultations, public hearings, and deliberations as part of the next regional wage review. The GenSan meeting therefore represents one piece of a broader process rather than an immediate announcement of new rates.
A More Data-Focused Conversation About Pay
There is another notable element behind this year’s review: RTWPB XII has been preparing to involve academic institutions in collaborative wage research. During a July 2026 meeting in General Santos City, the Board presented Resolution No. 02, Series of 2026, supporting partnerships with the academe for research that can contribute to data-driven wage setting. That effort adds another source of evidence to discussions involving workers and employers. For General Santos City, the September consultation provides a local venue where those realities can be heard alongside broader regional information. Any eventual wage action will still depend on the Board’s established review, consultation, and deliberation process.
