MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has signed into law a joint congressional resolution standardizing the pay of more than one million government personnel.
Arroyo signed Resolution 4, or the Salary Standardization Law III, at the airport lounge yesterday just before leaving on a chartered Philippine Airlines flight for a working visit to Japan.
The resolution, which has the effect of law, introduces new compensation and position scale for civilian, military and uniformed personnel in government.
In essence, it “overhauls not only the pay, but [also] the plantilla,” Malacańang officials said.
It seeks to address the salary overlaps created by the current compensation system, such as varying allowances and benefits, which have distorted pay of government employees, they said.
The increase in pay could be as high as 50 percent, and will be implemented over a period of four years, beginning in July.
For instance, the salary grade of public school teachers has been raised one notch, giving them a basic pay of between P18,088 and P19,527, or a 50-percent increase when fully implemented.
“In effect, we’re giving the private sector good competition. We’re encouraging competent workers to join the government. Now government salaries can already be competitive,” said deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo. TJ Burgonio
