The Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) settled 219 out of 249 labor cases handled so far in 2026, an 88% settlement rate that resulted in ₱112 million in payouts to approximately 7,500 workers who were spared from years-long court proceedings at the NLRC.
Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino disclosed the details in an interview on DZRH News program The Situation Report on Thursday, September 10, saying the NCMB’s performance is one of the clearest demonstrations that the Philippine labor dispute resolution system can work when properly resourced and staffed.
The Labor chief said the settlements covered a wide range of labor disputes including unpaid benefits, illegal dismissal, and working conditions complaints, with DOLE conciliators sometimes negotiating through the early hours of the morning to reach agreements that both workers and employers could accept.
“Dito ko nakita ang dedikasyon ng mga kawani ng DOLE, kasi inaabot ito nang minsan madaling araw na nag-nene-negotiate. Nakikita mo ang pasensya,” Tolentino said.
Tolentino said the NCMB also handled notices of strike and lockout separately, settling 59 out of 74 such notices at an 80% rate, generating ₱418.9 million in settlements for 5,600 workers who might otherwise have gone on strike.
The Labor chief said the combined ₱530 million in settlements delivered to more than 13,000 workers through conciliation and mediation represents money that would likely have taken years to arrive had the cases gone through the full NLRC process.
He said the settlement-first approach reflects the department’s philosophy that industrial peace is the goal, and that workers are better served by a resolved case today than a favorable ruling years from now.
