Top House execs may lose jobs, perks

High paid officials of the House of Represenatives could lose their jobs and the perks that go with their positions.

Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Lakas, Surigao del Norte), who heads the chamber’s accounts committee, said yesterday the effort of his panel to streamline House operations involves a "top-to-bottom review, and overhaul if necessary, of our work force."

"Everyone is affected, not only contractual personnel but top officials specially," said Barbers, whose committee manages the more than P2 billion annual budget of the House.

He was commenting on the criticism of Minority Leader Carlos Padilla (LDP, Nueva Vizcaya) that while the chamber has terminated the services of hundreds of contractual employees, it continues to be "top-heavy."

He agreed with Padilla that the top echelon needs to be reviewed and recognized.

As a special example, Barbers cited the fact that the number of officials holding the rank of deputy secretary general had grown to 14 from only two during the time of the late Speaker Ramon Mitra Jr. in 1992.

"We are only entirely to blame for this. We just inherited some of these officials from previous House leaders," he said.

He said his committee can save millions of pesos in salaries and allowances a year if the number of persons holding the position of secretary general and other non-essential posts is reduced to the "barest minimum."

The Surigao solon, added that he would submit recommendations to Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and would give up his chairmanship of the accounts committee if his suggestions were not followed.

However, he expressed confidence that his House boss would act favorably on his recommendations.

A deputy secretary general receives about P31,000 a month in basic pay. Additionally, he gets roughly P57,000 in representation and transportation allowances or rata.

The secretary general has a basic salary of P35,000 and P85,000 in rata.

A member of Barbers’ staff told reporters that they are likely to recommend a reduction in the number of positions with the rank of deputy secretary general from 14 to only four or five.

He said the committee would also suggest a cut in perks.