Bam Aquino to DBM: Don’t delay pay hike of gov’t workers

MANILA, Philippines — The government should not delay the scheduled salary increase of government workers especially in a time when prices of goods remain high, Senator Bam Aquino said Thursday.

Aquino made the statement amid Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno’s remark that the fourth and last tranches of salary increases under the Salary Standardization Law for government workers would have to wait for the approval of the 2019 budget.

“Sa gitna ng pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, hindi dapat mabinbin ang umento sa sweldo ng mga empleyado ng pamahalaan, lalo na ng ating public school teachers,” Aquino said in a statement.

The senator pointed out that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) could use the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) to ensure that government employees receive their pay hike on time.

“Huwag naman sanang ipagkait sa mga empleyado ng pamahalaan at sa mga guro itong agarang ayuda na matagal na nilang hinihiling at hinihintay,” Aquino said.

He said the pay hike could help government workers cope with the high prices of food and other goods.  /muf

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