MANILA, Philippines ? After waiting for more than three months, employees of the University of the Philippines will finally enjoy the 10 percent salary increase for all government workers that was supposed to take effect on July 1.

Dr. Judy Taguiwalo, national vice president of the All UP Academic Employees Union, said they welcome the pay hike as mandated by Executive Order 719.

?We were planning to appeal personally to the Department of Budget and Management earlier, but this is good news,? she told the Inquirer in a phone interview.

UP President Emerlinda Roman said the much awaited salary increase for the university?s employees ? both permanent and temporary ? was approved by President Macapagal-Arroyo only last week.

?We received the DBM memorandum on Oct. 3, and the budget for the pay hike was released on Monday,? she said.

The DBM earlier declined to approve the budget for the university workers? pay hike, saying that with the signing of the new UP charter in April, the university was no longer covered by the salary standardization law.

Roman said the UP accounting office was already preparing the new pay roll. ?Everybody understands that they have to wait for the process. It cannot be released immediately,? she added.

Taguiwalo said they hope to receive the extra pay in the coming weeks.