Additional allowance for gov’t employees pushed

MANILA, Philippines – To counter the effects of inflation, a new bill filed at the Senate is proposing an additional allowance of P5,000 for government employees.

Under Senate Bill No. 2901, government employees will enjoy an additional allowance through the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA). This is on top of their monthly salary and current allowance like the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA).

According to Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, author of the bill and chairman of the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, the proposal is timely and necessary to help employees deal with the effects of inflation.

“Sa mga nagdaang taon, ang sahod ng mga kawani ng gobyerno ay itinaas upang mapunan ang patuloy na tumataas na mga presyo ng pangunahing bilihin, na makikita rin sa taunang pagtaas ng consumer price index. Gayunpaman, ang nasabing pagtataas sa sahod ay hindi sapat upang matugunan ang mga pangangailangang ito,” he added.

(In the past years, the rate of government salary has raised to address the effects inflation, as reflected in the annual consumer price index. However, the said salary raise is not enough to fully mitigate its impact to government employees)

The bill targets all civilian employees of the government, as indicated in the Republic Act 6758, or the Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989.

The senator proposes to source the required funds from the Miscellaneous Personal Benefit Fund (MPBF) or from any existing savings from the current General Appropriatons Act (GAA).

“Ang panukalang ito ay isang magandang alternatibo kung sakaling hindi pa handa ang ating gobyerno na magpatupad ng panibagong pagtaas ng sahod ng mga kawani ng gobeyerno. Isa rin itong mabisang paraan upang masiguro na mas malaki ang maiuuwing sahod ng ating mga kawani,” Trillanes added.

(This proposal is a good alternative in case the government is not yet ready to approve another raise in salary. This is also a good measure to ensure that our government employees go home with enough salary) – Rappler.com