Duterte to donate one-month salary for gov’t efforts vs COVID-19 — Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte updates the nation on the government’s efforts in addressing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on April 3, 2020. TOTO LOZANO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte will donate his one-month pay to the government’s efforts in the coronavirus disease crisis, Malacañang announced Sunday.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said this as he confirmed that Cabinet members vowed to donate 75 percent of their monthly salary for the months of April to December.

“The President is likewise donating his one month salary for the cause,” Panelo, who is also the Presidential Legal Counsel, said in a statement.

In a text message to reporters, Panelo also confirmed that he is one of the Cabinet officials who will donate 75 percent of his monthly pay starting April until December this year.

Panelo also noted that assistant secretaries of his office also offered to donate 10 percent of their income to the Office of the Civil Defense in a bid to help in addressing the coronavirus disease crisis.

“Assistant Secretaries of the Offices of the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Presidential Spokesperson have likewise committed to donate at least 10% of their income directly to the Office of Civil Defense this month,” he said.

The Palace official added that the assistant secretaries will also “continue providing financial and relief assistance from their salaries to groups who are at the frontline of this health crisis in the succeeding months.”