Government to computerize payroll for mentors

As part of the efforts of the administration of President Estrada to eliminate graft and corruption in the bureaucracy, the government’s economic managers are now pursuing measures to computerize the payroll accounts of public school teachers.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the government is also aware of the salary delays experienced by teachers, especially in the provinces.

"Gusto namin maging centralized ang payment system ng gobyerno (We want to centralize soon the government’s payment system) to prevent these delays," Diokno said.

Citing reports reaching his office, Diokno said many teachers, especially those in remote areas, have complained of delays in the release of their salaries.

National Treasurer Leonor Briones said the delay may be due to the fact that the regional offices of the DBM in those areas are still using manual systems.

"Lalo ang ahensya na di pa electronic ang sistema, ang binibilang pa ang pera. Meron pang ganoon (Some offices still count money manually. We still have offices like these,)" Briones said.

Earlier, Diokno said his office is eyeing a centralized fund system for all government agencies, similar to the one his office now employs for internal revenue allotments (IRAs).

Diokno said the DBM hopes to achieve soon this centralized fund release system by tapping advances in information technology (IT).