House OKs government pay hike

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives approved last night a four-year salary upgrading program for government personnel, including teachers, soldiers and policemen.

The program that will benefit 1.1 million government workers is contained in Joint Resolution 36. The pay increase will be paid over the next four years starting on July 1 this year for workers in the national government and state corporations.

In the case of local government units, the adjustment would be given starting Jan. 1, 2010.

Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. earlier said funds for this year’s increase are already included in the P1.415-trillion national budget for 2009.

The salary upgrading program doubles the salaries of high-ranking officials, including the President, Vice President, senators, congressmen, undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, and directors.

“It is important to note that the salary adjustment for the President, the Vice President and members of Congress takes affect only after the expiration of their respective terms,” Speaker Prospero Nograles clarified.

The President would get a monthly basic pay of P120,000; Vice President, P103,000; senators and congressmen, P90,000; undersecretaries, P78,946; assistant secretaries, P73,099; and directors, P67,684.

The lowest pay in government would be adjusted from about P5,000 to P9,000.

The chamber also concurred with the Senate amendments on four other local bills on education, the judiciary and grants of franchises.

Aside from their basic pay, congressmen receive allowances for travel and district office expenses. All told, they get between P300,000 to P350,000 a month.

Quirino Rep. Junie Cua, principal sponsor of Joint Resolution 36 as appropriations committee chairman, rejected proposals to further upgrade the salaries of teachers, nurses, soldiers, and policemen, who comprise the bulk of government workers.

Cua said the government is not in a position to fund such a huge adjustment.

Most of these personnel presently hold salary grade 11 with a basic pay of about P12,000. They will receive an increase of about P6,500 over four years. – Jess Diaz, Delon Porcalla