ESTRADA
MANILA, Philippines–Turning 77 on Black Saturday, former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada unveiled an Easter treat for city policemen but asked local government employees to make a post-Lenten “sacrifice.”
“For my birthday, I have set aside funds to give P10,000 per policeman,” Estrada said in an interview, referring to the financial assistance totaling P29.58 million for members of the Manila Police District (MPD).
The amount represents the P2,500 monthly allowance due each MPD member since January, which Estrada said would be drawn from City Hall’s special activities fund under nonoffice expenditures.
The mayor explained that since his birthday fell on a holiday, he decided to schedule the distribution of the money next week. In December last year, he also distributed P6,000 to each Manila policeman, representing P1,000 a month since he assumed office.
His predecessor, Alfredo Lim, suspended the release of the police allowance in his last two years in office.
But for City Hall employees who had been grumbling about their deferred salary increase, Estrada said they had to make some more “sacrifices” for now. “At least they have a job, others don’t. I myself haven’t received a single centavo of my salary since I started.”
Several employees have been complaining that they haven’t received the fourth tranche of the government-mandated salary increase pending since January last year.
“It was much better during the previous administration when half of the amount was given at the end of the year to comply with the law,” one employee told the Inquirer, requesting not to be identified for fear of reprisal.
“Wala muna (None for now),” Estrada said. “(The money) is needed for the greater good of the greatest number. Let’s prioritize the people first, the health centers, the hospitals.”
Citing the conditions set in a budget circular in a previous interview, City Treasurer Liberty Toledo explained that “you’re only allowed to grant the increase if you qualify under the 45-percent personal services limitation. The main reason why we can’t grant that even if the mayor wanted to is this limitation.”
Estrada said he was giving priority to the policemen in view of his campaign platform focusing on peace and order.
Estrada, who spent his past birthdays handing out food and other gift items to residents in depressed areas, did not make any public appearance on Saturday. Diego Cagahastian, chief of the City Development Information Service, said the mayor went on an out-of-town trip.