Update (August 14, 2026): The story took a turn for the worse. The 20-day TRO expired on its own terms on August 13, as scheduled, but instead of the wage hike resuming, Pasig RTC Branch 152 converted it into a writ of preliminary injunction that same day.
This is a meaningfully bigger deal than the original TRO. Here’s why:
- A TRO is temporary by design and expires on its own after a set period (in this case, 20 days). An injunction has no automatic expiration. It stays in effect indefinitely until the court actually rules on the merits of the underlying case, which could take months.
- The injunction was reportedly granted on a ₱10-billion bond.
- It continues to restrain the RTWPB-NCR and the NWPC from implementing Wage Order NCR-27, but now pending the court’s full ruling rather than a fixed 20-day window.
- As of this writing, no labor advisory has been issued clarifying what minimum wage employers should be paying starting August 14. The injunction doesn’t annul the wage order itself, it just blocks its implementation while litigation continues, which means the ₱695 vs. ₱780 question is exactly what’s still being fought over in court.
What Led Up to This
Despite significant pushback against the original TRO, the court moved in the opposite direction:
- August 4–5: 21 senators signed a resolution urging the Pasig court to lift the TRO, and DOLE publicly welcomed the Senate’s support
- August 7: In a rare alignment, labor groups and employers (through ECOP) jointly agreed to call for the TRO’s lifting via a National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (NTIPC) resolution
- The Palace and the Office of the Solicitor General also opposed the TRO, arguing it violated the Labor Code and the Wage Rationalization Act
None of that pressure changed the outcome. The court escalated the block instead of lifting it.
What This Means for Workers and Employers Right Now
- The ₱60 first tranche already paid (July 25 to present) stays with workers. DOLE previously confirmed this explicitly: no refunds, no payroll deductions, regardless of how the court case proceeds.
- Going forward, there’s currently no official guidance on what wage floor applies. This is a genuinely unresolved gap, not something we can confidently answer either way until DOLE or the court clarifies.
- The ₱25 second tranche, originally scheduled for January 20, 2027, remains equally uncertain, since the injunction blocks the wage order as a whole, not just the first tranche.
We’ll continue tracking this and update the moment DOLE issues clearer guidance or the court rules on the case itself.
Updated FAQ
Is the TRO still in effect?
No, technically it expired on August 13, 2026. But it was immediately replaced by a preliminary injunction, which blocks the wage order just as effectively, except now with no fixed expiration date.
Do I need to pay the ₱780 minimum wage now?
There’s no clear official guidance on this as of August 14, 2026. The injunction blocks implementation of the wage order pending the court’s ruling, but doesn’t explicitly restore the previous ₱695 rate either. We’d recommend watching for a DOLE advisory before making payroll changes either direction.
Will I have to return the ₱60 I already received?
No. DOLE has confirmed that the ₱60 tranche already paid out (starting July 25) stays with workers regardless of how the case proceeds. No refunds or deductions.
When will this actually be resolved?
There’s no set timeline. Unlike the original 20-day TRO, the preliminary injunction remains in effect until the Pasig court rules on the full merits of the case, which could take considerably longer.
Blogger’s Corner update:
Update: hindi pala natapos ang kwento sa August 13, mas lumala pa nga. Naging indefinite na yung TRO dahil naging injunction na siya, kaya wala tayong malinaw na deadline na hihintayin ngayon. Grabe talaga itong drama ng NCR-27, parang hindi pa rin matatapos. I-track ko pa rin ito hangga’t wala pang malinaw na desisyon, so keep checking back dito.