PNoy: Salary increase for gov't employees possible

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III expressed confidence on Tuesday that the government could increase the salaries of its workers next year.

During the Jesse Robredo Day Multi-Sectoral Forum in Naga City, Aquino told a state employee that the government would be able to implement the fourth phase of the Salary Standardization Law (SSL4).

"Itong SSL4, mukhang may kakayahan tayo," Aquino said. "Nandiyan si (Budget Secretary) Butch (Abad). Actually, ikaw nga pala ang nagbi-brief sa akin 'nung isang araw na mukhang kaya natin ito. Hinihintay ko na lahat 'nung detalye, tapos siyempre, hihingi tayo ng pahintulot sa Kongreso."

Abad earlier said that a total of P50.6 billion was included in the proposed P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016 for the possible increase in the salaries of state workers. This would translate to an average P3,000 a month increase in the salary of each of the 1.3 million government employees.

Apart from the proposed wage hike, Aquino said the government has given Productivity Enhancement Incentives to its employees and has transitioned into providing performance-based bonuses.

"Ang pagkaintindi ko tapos na lahat 'nung kailangan na mga studies na ginawa dahil gusto natin, siyempre, 'yung konsepto ng equal pay for equal work. Kailangan nating i-recognize 'yung mga nakikiambag na tama na kawani ng gobyerno.

Aquino stressed the importance of giving performance-based bonuses, saying this enables employees to determine their own bonuses while eliminating the "palakasan" system in government offices.

"Ano ba ang madadagdag sa sweldo niyo, sa benepisyo niyo? Siguro ang tamang sagot doon, kayo ang magtatakda 'nung kung anong idadagdag dahil kayo ang magpapatupad 'nung mga ipinangako niyo sa buong bansa na ito ang mami-meet niyong targets," Aquino said.

"So wala nang palakasan sa boss, wala nang parang nawawalan ng katuwiran kung sino ang may bonus at sinong wala. Dito kayo mismo, 'yung kawani ng gobyerno ang magtatakda ng sarili niyong bonus dahil pinagkasunduan nga 'ito ang aabutin ko,' nalampasan, dapat may reward kayo."

Aquino urged state workers to keep on doing their jobs better so that the government can also continue repaying them with better benefits.

"Gawin niyo 'yung parte niyo, gumaganda 'yung ating bansa, gumaganda 'yung lipunan, gumaganda rin 'yung negosyo, lumalaki ekonomiya," Aquino said.

"Habang gumaganda ang ekonomiya, dumadagdag ang kakayahan ng gobyerno na magpataas na magpataas ng mga benepisyo sa ating mga kawani," he added.