SC orders DBM to comment on delayed perks for state workers

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to comment on the petition filed by Camarines Sur 1st District Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. on the release the fourth tranche of benefits for state workers.

High court magistrates arrived at a decision to get the DBM’s side during Tuesday’s en banc (full court) session, an insider said.

Andaya’s petition, which was filed last Jan. 14 maintained that despite the delay in the passage of the 2019 budget, the DBM can still proceed with the release of the fourth tranche of salary increase for government workers.

During last Tuesday’s en banc session, the high court opted to reschedule the deliberation to today.

A court insider said the justices do not see the need to immediately rule on the matter.

Andaya went to the high court after DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno said that the executive branch will wait until the approval of the 2019 General Appropriations Act (GAA) by February before releasing the 4th tranche.

But Andaya, in his petition for mandamus, stressed that Diokno cannot use as an excuse the delay in the approval of the 2019 budget.

The lawmaker cited two possible sources of funding for the fourth tranche – the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) worth P99,446,295,000.00 and the generated savings because of the reenacted budget. /gsg

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