Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Lakas, Surigao del Norte) gave this advice to President Arroyo yesterday in the wake of reports that many heads of government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs) are defying her order to cut their fat salaries.
Another Lakas lawmaker, Rep. Charity Leviste of Mindoro Oriental, urged members of GOCC boards, particularly appointees of Mrs. Arroyo, to volunteer to take a pay reduction in recognition of the government’s financial predicament.
Barbers said the GOCC heads cannot defy the government, which is the appointing authority.
"She should fire them for going against her directive to take a pay cut in view of the ballooning budget deficit," he said.
Mrs. Arroyo’s instruction is contained in Memorandum Order No. 20 issued on June 25, 2001. Two weeks ago, or more than a year after she ordered the pay cut, Malacañang filed administrative charges against GOCC officials defying the presidential order.
The charges were filed with the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC), headed by Dario Rama, which started hearing the cases last week.
Barbers said it is the height of insensitivity and lack of sense of propriety (delicadeza) for GOCC officials to refuse a pay cut.
He said even if their salaries are reduced, they will still be substantial compared to pay rates in the bureaucracy.
"For instance, if a vice president of the Social Security System who now receives more than P200,000 a month accepts a 50-percent reduction, he will still have P100,000 as take-home pay. That is two times the President’s salary," Barbers said.
He also said that GOCC officials should not make a threat that they will leave the government and return to the private sector if their salaries are cut.
"Such a threat betrays their lack of sense of public service and patriotism and means that they are there only for the money,’ he added.
Barbers urged these officials to quit their posts "because the nation does not lack talented and patriotic citizens who can replace them."
In urging the GOCC board members to accept a pay cut, Leviste said these executives also receive fat per diem and other emoluments like their chief executive and chief operating officers and vice presidents.
At this time when the government faces a ballooning budget deficit, they would be setting an example for other GOCC officials and the entire bureaucracy if they volunteer to give up part of their salaries, she said.