Del Rosario, Alcala are highest paid Cabinet members

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Foreign Secretary Alberto del Rosario was the highest-paid Cabinet official in the Aquino administration last year, receiving a total of P2.936 million in salaries, bonuses and allowances, according to the 2011 Report on Salaries and Allowances released by the Commission on Audit.

The report said that Del Rosario’s pay as architect of the country’s foreign policy included P2 million in discretionary and extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses (EME).

Next to Del Rosario was Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, who received P2.27 million,  including P753,345 in incentives and allowances for sitting on the board of directors of the National Food Authority Council and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.

Alcala also sat on the boards of 10 other government-owned and controlled corporations but with no extra compensation.

Placing third was Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, who was paid P2.216 million, including discretionary funds and EMEs amounting to P308,280.05.

Singson did not receive compensation for sitting on the boards of the Intramuros Administration, Philippine Fisheries Development Authority  and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.

Health Secretary Enrique  Ona came in at fourth with P2,182,839.78, including P360,000 in discretionary funds and EME from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth). He served unpaid on the boards of six other government-owned and –controlled corporations.

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima’s pay of P2,044,891 was fifth. All of it came from the Department of Justice because she did not receive any compensation for her positions in the Intramuros Administration, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.

Occupying the next slots by the size of their pay envelopes were Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo, P1,999,735.43; Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, P1,837,487.91; Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, 1,772,104.78; Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima,  P1,752,617.57 (Purisima sat on the boards of 13 GOCCs without getting extra pay); and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin; P1,742,438.29;  Commission on Higher Education chair Patricia Licuanan, P1,726,551.71;  PCDSPO Secretary Ramon Carandang;  P1,668,118.12,  National Anti-Poverty Council Sec. Joel Rocamora , P1,589,926.56;   National Economic Development Authority Director General Cayetano Paderanga Jr. ; P1,580,121.96 (Paderanga also held unpaid posts in six GOCCs);

Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras , P1,574,118 (Almendras sat in five GOCCs without pay); Presidential Management Staff  Secretary Julia Andrea Abad, P1,531,114.92; Environment Secretary Ramon Jesus  Paje, P1,502,121.96 (Paje held positions in 10 GOCCs without pay); Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva, P1,462,122;   Presidential Communications and Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, P1,454,122; Chief Presidential  Legal Counsel Eduardo De Mesa, P1,452.121.96;  Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Deles, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda,  and Executive Secretary Paquito  Ochoa Jr., P1,452.121.96 each ; PCGG chairman Andres  Bautista , P1,452,118;

National Security Council Director General Cesar Garcia Jr.,  P1,442,344; the late Local Government and Interior Secretary Jessie Robredo, P1,441,238.54 ( Robredo held unpaid positions in two other government agencies);  Education Secretary Armin Luistro, P1,428,375.26 ; Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio Delos Reyes, P1,388,303.99 (Delos Reyes also held unpaid positions in four GOCCs);

Trade and Industry Secretary  Gregory Domingo, P1,351,976.36 (Domingo held posts on the boards of 12 GOCCs without extra pay) ; Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino, P1,240,122.00; Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose De Jesus (six months),  P809,633.03;  Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II (six months), P666.598.68;  Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. (four months ), P372,416.00; and Secretary Alberto Lim, P761,706.