Mandaue City to realign budget for wage increase

CEBU, Philippines – Mandaue City may have to realign some of its budget for the increase of the salary of workers if the Salary Standardization Law of 2015 takes effect next year as targeted.

City Treasurer Regal Oliva said even if the increase of workers’ salaries was not stipulated in the P2.7 billion city budget for 2016, they can always drop other items in the budget in favor of the increase.

Mandaue already approved its budget even before President Benigno Aquino III had pushed for the “priority” law’s passage earlier.

“It (proposed increase) always comes first in the echelon of expenses. If ever it (the law) will take effect June next year, mag-supplemental na lang mi para makabayad ta,” said Oliva.

In an earlier interview, Oliva however admitted that this additional expense will have “adverse effects” on their budget.

Nonetheless, since they don’t want their regular workers to complain, he said they have no choice but to find ways.

Meanwhile, he said the city may have a surplus of salaries and wages this year because of positions that got vacant, but there is not much as most positions have already been filled in.

Surpluses for the previous year are used for the following year’s expenses.

Last year, Oliva said the city was able to make a surplus of P270 million from different areas, which was used to cover this year’s expenditures. (FREEMAN)