Duterte certifies as urgent bill on gov’t workers’ salary hike

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has certified as urgent a measure providing for another round of salary increase for workers in the government service.

In a letter to Senate President Vicente Sotto III dated Dec. 13, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said: “I have the honor to transmit the letter of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, certifying to the necessity of the immediate enactment of Senate Bill No. 1219. ”

The bill is also known as “An Act Modifying the Salary Schedule for Civilian Government Personnel and Authorizing the Grant of Additional Benefits, and for Other Purposes.”

Under the measure, a salary adjustment will be given in four tranches starting in January 2020 and upon full implementation, basic salaries will increase by a weighted average of 23.24% by 2023.

Earlier, Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., sponsor of the bill, said that, in effect, employees under salary grade 10 to 15 would be granted the highest increase ranging from 20% to 30%. while those under SG 23 to 33 would have the lowest increase of 8%.

Citing data from the  Department of Budget and Management (DBM) as of July 2019, Revilla said there were more 1.4 million government employees who would benefit from the proposed measure.

Further, the measure gives premium to those under salary grade 11 to 19 where most of the teachers and nurses belong, the senator said.

Revilla said that P33.15 billion would be needed for the implementation of the first trench of the law in 2020.

/atm