Sen. Ralph Recto. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
Better than flowers.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto has called on President Benigno Aquino III to show some love to government workers this Valentine’s Day by signing an executive order that would increase the wages of 1.3 public office employees.
READ: Recto: Aquino order could effect gov’t workers’ pay hike in lieu of SSL
“If he doesn’t have a date yet on Feb. 14, then perhaps he can schedule a quiet signing of the EO on SSL (Salary Standardization Law) IV. It can be his way of showing his love for his fellow government workers. That’s better than flowers,” Recto said in a statement.
Recto said the executive order should include a provision protecting the Magna Carta benefits that a broad range of government workers currently enjoy.
“Specifically, this provision must be included: ‘Nothing in this act shall be interpreted to reduce, diminish or alter benefits provided for in existing laws on Magna Carta benefits,’” he said.
“Mr. President, those are 22 words of saying ‘I love you’ to government workers,” he said.
The provision should ease fears of public school teachers, scientists, nurses, doctors and social workers as it would do away with ambiguities in the measure that could be interpreted as a pay cut.
Senate President Franklin Drilon earlier made a similar call after Congress was stuck in a deadlock on the approval of the proposed SSL IV because of a dispute on whether to include the indexation of the pension benefits of retired police and military officers.
READ: Aquino may order pay hike for gov’t workers sans SSL, Drilon says
Indexation would require an increase in the pensions for the retired police and military officials along with the increase in the basic pay of those in active service.
But funds for the increase in the pensions from indexation were not provided for in the 2016 budget. Only funds for the salary increase, worth P58 billion, were included in this year’s general appropriations act.
Magna Carta benefits differ for each sector of the government.
Public school teachers assigned in hardship stations get a hazard pay equivalent to at least 25 percent of their monthly pay, among other benefits.
Public health workers get “on call” pay, night shift differential, subsistence allowance, remote assignment and hazard allowance.
Government scientists and researchers get hazard pay, longevity pay and royalties from their inventions.
Frontline Department of Social Welfare and Development personnel get “on call,” hazard, and overtime pay as well as subsistence and transportation allowance. TVJ
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