Congressmen, except one, laugh off Trillanes proposal on government pay hike

A MEMBER of the House of Representatives over the weekend admitted that the government does not have enough sources of funds for the proposed salary increases of state workers and government officials.

Liberal Party Rep. Isidro Ungab of Davao City, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, said the proposal to increase the wages of state workers and elected high-ranking officials is only a good “political propaganda” for the 2016 presidential elections.

Ungab was reacting to Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV’s Senate Bill (SB) 1689, or the proposed salary standardization, which seeks to make the government compensation system competitive with the private sector.

““Expect more weird ideas as the 2016 election is fast approaching,” Ungab said.

“I cannot reconcile the ‘praise releases’ of some officials who wanted to reduce taxes and here comes another who want to raise salaries. Even a small business will collapse if you have more expenditures than your revenues,” he added.

According to Trillanes his proposal is aimed at curbing corruption, attract competent civil servants and prevent exodus of professionals seeking better paying jobs abroad. Trillanes also said the government shall adopt an omnibus compensation and position classification system for civil servants and military and uniformed personnel.

Under the bill the base pay of the lowest government rank, Job Grade 1, should increase to P16,000 a month from the current rate of P9,000.

The bill also proposed that the base pay of the President, the highest government rank, will increase to P500,000 from the present rate of P120,000 monthly. For military and uniformed personnel, base pay ranges from P23,000 (private) to P282,800 (four-star general).

The Vice President, the Senate president and the Speaker will have a base pay of P432,800 a month as they are categorized under Salary Grade 32.

Members of the Congress will have a base pay of P352,800 under Salary Grade 31.

“The intention to increase the salaries of government employees and officials is good but must be backed up by fund sources. It is easier said than done. We cannot do it without new sources of funds,” Ungab said.

On his part, Liberal Party Rep. Gus Tambunting of Parañaque said that he does not believe that the SB 1689 will address corruption.

“I don’t agree with this proposal. No matter how high a salary you give an official, if he or she wants to commit corruption, he/she will commit corruption,” Tambunting said.

Liberal Party Rep. Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, meanwhile, backed the senator’s proposal to help uplift the standard of living of government workers.

Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

source:  Business Mirror