Senate bill raises salaries of president, lawmakers to curb corruption

MANILA, Philippines — A senator wants to increase the wages of government employees including elected high-ranking officials to eliminate corruption and to attract competent civil servants.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has filed Senate Bill No. 1689 or the proposed Salary Standardization Law 4 which aims to make the government compensation system competitive with the private sector.

Under the proposed law, the government shall adopt an omnibus compensation and position classification system for civil servants and military and uniformed personnel.

Trillanes said with an improved compensation system, the government will be able to attract, retain and maintain competent employees.

The senator also hoped that this will prevent the exodus of professionals, scientists and highly skilled workers who seek better paying jobs abroad, similar to the condition of the Filipino public school teachers, doctors, and state meteorologists.

Trillanes further claimed that the bill also serves as an "anti-corruption" measure.

"Due to the competitive compensation package, our public servants will no longer consider resorting to unscrupulous activities in order to augment their meager income, and, instead, focus their efforts and energy to public service, curbing corruption and cutting red tape," Trillanes said.

The bill seeks to raise the base pay of the lowest government rank, Job Grade 1, to P16,000 from the present rate of P9,000.

On the other hand, the base pay of the President, the highest government rank, will increase to P500,000 from the present rate of Php120,000.

For military and uniformed personnel, base pay ranges from P23,000 for a private to P282,800 for a four-star general.

The vice president, the Senate president and the speaker of the House will have a base pay of P432,800 under Job Grade 32.

Senators and members of the Lower House will have a base pay of P352,800 under Job Grade 31.