Aquino to receive DBM recommendation for gov’t workers’ pay hike—Drilon

Senate President Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC

The Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) recommendation to raise the salary of the 1.3 million government workers will be submitted to President Benigno Aquino III for approval either this Wednesday or Thursday, Senate President Franklin Drilon disclosed on Wednesday.

And Drilon hopes that the President would approve the recommendation as a Valentine’s Day gift for the state workers.

READ: Senate OKs proposed pay hike for gov’t workers

“Ang proposal at ang rekomendasyon, ang memorandum ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) na hinihintay ng Pangulo ay isa-submit ngayong araw,” he said during the “Kapihan sa Manila Bay” forum held in Malate, Manila.

(The proposal and recommendation, the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) memorandum that the President is awaiting will be submitted today.)

Drilon said he did not personally discuss the matter with Aquino but said he was told by DBM Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad” that a recommendation for the salary increase of the state workers was already up for submission to the President.

READ: House leaders defend hefty pay, paltry sums under salary law

“Tinanong ko kahapon si (Yesterday, I asked) Secretary Abad and he said the Department of Budget and Management recommendation, which will grant the salary increases for 2016, which is authorized under the General Appropriations Act will be with the President either today or tomorrow. That’s why I’m urging the President, siguro Valentine’s Day gift na na lang (perhaps it could be a Valentine’s Day gift to us),” he said.

Drilon said the proposed pay hikes for the state workers amounting to P57.9 billion were already included in the 2016 national budget.

READ: Aquino could issue executive order if Congress fails to pass latest SSL–solon

“And the next Congress should work double time for the salary increase in 2017 and 2018 and at the same time work on how we can fund the pension of our retired military personnel through a trust fund,” he said.

The proposed Salary Standardization Law (SSL) was stalled at the congressional bicameral conference committee because of the indexation issue on the salary increases of the active personnel in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the police.

READ: Aquino may order pay hike for gov’t workers sans SSL, Drilon says

“We passed the Salary Standardization Law, the issue there is the indexation of the salary increases of the active personnel in the Armed Forces and the police indexed to the retirement pension to the pension of those who are retired so if the salary increase in the active service, say P1,000, those retired also gets P1,000,” Drilon said in an interview last week. RAM