Agri chief is highest paid Cabinet official

MANILA, Philippines – Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala remains the top grosser among Cabinet officials in 2013, with recorded earnings of over P4.2 milllion (US$96,333), a Commission on Audit (COA) report showed.

Based on the 2013 Report of Salaries and Allowances (ROSA) released by the COA on Thursday, June 26, Alcala as agriculture chief received a basic salary of P1,085,940, P29,000 in honoraria, P577,939.18 in allowances, P127,190 in bonuses and incentives and P291,999.95 in discretionary funds for a total of P2,082,069.14 (US$47,557).

He also received P2,105,581.33 for chairing the National Food Authority Council, for a total of P4,217,650 in 2013. This is lower than his pay of P6.04 million (US$137,968) in 2012, when he also topped other Cabinet officials in that regard.

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Alcala sat in the governing boards of various government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) for which he received little or no compensation.

These are the Development Academy of the Philippines, Human Settlements Development Corporation, Land Bank of the Philippines, National Dairy Authority, National Tobacco Administration, Philippine Coconut Authority, Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, Philippine International Trading Corporation, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Sugar Regulatory Administration, National Agri-Business Corporation, and ZNAC Rubber Estate Corporation for which he received no pay.

The second highest-paid Cabinet official is Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz with P2.294 million (US$52,362); followed by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, P2.188 million (US$49,947); Health Secretary Enrique Ona, P2.164 million (US$49,387); Commission Higher Education chairperson Patricia Licuanan, P2.102 million (US$47,930); and Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, P2.062 (US$47,033).

Others among the top 10 highest-paid Cabinet members are Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, P2.018 million (US$46,064); Science Secretary Mario Montejo, P1.99 million (US$45,442); Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, P1.921 million (US$43,866); and Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin, P1.916 million (US$43,752).

The highest paid government official in 2013 is Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) President and General Manager Robert G. Vergara, who had a take-home pay of P12.09 million ($275,618) in 2013, from P16.36 million ($372,963) in 2012, also making him the highest-paid among government officials that year.

 Cabinet officials and their government pay in 2013, from highest to lowest:

1. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, P4,217,650 (US$96,228)
2. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, P2.294 million (US$52,362)
3. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, P2.188 million (US$49,947)
4. Health Secretary Enrique Ona, P2.164 million (US$49,387)
5. Commission Higher Education chairperson Patricia Licuanan, P2.102 million (US$47,930)
6. Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, P2.062 (US$47,033)
7. Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, P2.018 million (US$46,064)
8. Science Secretary Mario Montejo, P1.99 million (US$45,442)
9. Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, P1.921 million (US$43,866)
10. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, P1.916 million (US$43,752)
11. Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, P1.915 million (US$43,726)
12. Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes, P1.873 million (US$42,766)
13. Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, P1.848 million (US$42,195)
14. Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, P1.833 million (US$41,853)
15. Education Secretary Armin Luistro, P1.82 million (US$41,555)
16. Chief Presidential Counsel Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, P1.813 million (US$41,395)
17. Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs Danilo Cortez, P1.804 million (US$41,165)
18. Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Ronald Llamas, P1.802 million (US$41,119)
19. Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, P1.79 million (US$40,841)
20. Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning  Secretary Ramon Carandang (resigned effective December 31, 2013),  P1.795 million (US$40,955)
21. Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr, P1,780,406 (US$40,622)
22. Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, P1.761 million (US$40,185)
23. National Economic and Development Authority chief Arsenio Balisacan, P1.727 million (US$39,409)
24. Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Secretary Manuel Mamba, P1.716 million (US$39,160)
25. Presidential Communications Operations Office Head Herminio Coloma Jr, P1.711 million (US$39,046)
26. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino, P1.708 million (US$38,999)
27. National Security Council director general Cesar Garcia Jr, P1.678 million (US$38,314)
28. Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles, P1.669 million (US$38,114)
29. National Anti-Poverty Commission chairman Jose Eliseo Rocamora, P1.669 million (US$38,114)
30. Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, P1.631 million (US$37,247)
31. Environment Secretary Ramon Jesus Paje, P1.607 million (US$
32. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chief Joel Villanueva, P1.574 million (US$35,946)
33. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario, P1.432 million (US$32,703)
34. Presidential Management Staff Secretary Julia Abad, P1.404 million (US$32,062)
35. Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr, P1.392 million (US$31,788)
36. National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Secretary Mehol Sadain, P1.351 million (US$30,851) – Rappler.com