Mark Villar bill wants institutionalization of P2,000 transport allowance for gov’t workers

Composite image showing commuters packed in jeepneys and waiting for their rides. FROM FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines — A bill seeking to institutionalize the grant of transportation allowance amounting to P2,000 for government employees has been filed in the Senate.

Senator Mark Villar filed Senate Bill No. 1625 as he noted that a big portion of a government employee’s budget goes to transportation.

“Transportation takes a huge chunk of a government employee’s pay check. They have to allocate a bigger portion of their budget for fare and/or gasoline due to the enormous increase in the price of petroleum,” the bill’s explanatory note read.

“In order to ease the financial burden of the government employees, this measure proposes to grant all of them transportation allowance,” it added.

Under Villar’s bill, which was filed late last month, the grant will cover all government employees with permanent status.

Starting Tuesday, January 24, prices of gasoline, diesel, and kerosene rose by almost P3 per liter.

JMS