P32.6 million supplemental budget approved

Capitol workers to get salary hike

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Province employees will soon have an increase in their salary after the Cebu Provincial Board approved last Monday Supplemental Budget No. (SB2), which appropriates P32.546 million for the salary adjustment of government employees.

During his State of the National Address last July, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. announced that he has approved the Department of Budget and Management recommendation for the salary adjustment.

The SB2, which Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia certified as urgent, was approved during the Provincial Board’s regular session on Monday, Sept. 2.

Over 1,000 Capitol employees will benefit from the first tranche of salary adjustment for the months of September to December 2024.

According to the Capitol Information Office, “19 elected officials, 774 permanent employees, 203 co-terminus employees, and 282 casual employees of the Provincial Government will receive an increase of 3 to 4 percent of their salary, depending on their position.”

Provincial Board Member Glenn Anthony Soco, chairman of the committee on budget and appropriation, who authored the said measure, said that the Cebu Provincial Government is capable of implementing the said salary adjustment with sufficient funds to cover it “without exceeding the budget limit of personal services.”

Executive Order (EO) No. 64 states that the updated salary schedule applies to “all civilian government personnel in the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches; Constitutional Commissions and other Constitutional Offices.”

The Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) not covered by Republic Act 10149 (GOCC Governance Act of 2011) and EO No. 150 (s.2021), and the Local Government Units (LGUs) are also covered by the said EO.

“(G)iven the prevailing economic circumstances, including the erosion of purchasing power due to inflation, there is a need to update the salaries and benefits of government personnel in order to maintain a competent, committed, agile, and healthy workforce, thereby promoting social justice, integrity, efficiency, accountability, and excellence, and ultimately translating to increase productivity and higher-quality public services” read EO No. 64.

The updated salary schedule will be implemented in National Government Agencies (NGAs) in four tranches, the first tranche being on Jan. 1, 2024; second tranche, Jan. 1, 2025; third tranche, Jan. 1, 2026; and fourth tranche, Jan. 1, 2027.

The first tranche of implementation will be effective on Jan. 1, 2024, as EO 64 takes effect retroactively. (CEBU NEWS)