Palace to Binay: Consider budget in raising village execs’ pay

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang reminded the public that budgetary implications should be considered in proposals to raise public officials’ salary, particularly in giving regular compensation to barangay (village) officials.

In a radio interview on Sunday, June 14, Palace Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said that the proposal should be carefully studied.

“Giving regular compensation to barangay officials will bring budgetary implications, and as part of the right process, we should consider its implication in the state of the government’s finances,” Coloma said.

Coloma made this remark when asked about Vice President Jejomar Binay’s announcement that he’ll increase the salary of barangay officials once elected president. The opposition standard-bearer, Binay is the front runner in surveys on the 2016 elections. 

In his speech in Quezon province on Saturday, Binay promised that he will give these officials a regular salary plus other benefits given to state workers.

Currently, barangay chairmen get a P1,000 ($22.08) monthly honorarium, while councilors get P600 ($13.25) monthly honorarium.

These amounts, though, could be adjusted according to the availability of funds, but can only be limited to salary grade 14 (P23,044 or $508.75) for barangay chairmen and salary grade 10 (P17,255 or $380.94) for the councilors.

They receive at least P1,000 Christmas bonus, yet they are not entitled to 13th month pay, and hazard duty pays.

“If there will be a new policy wherein we have to give additional salary or benefits, or we have to incur additional expense, we should consider how this will be addressed, where to get funds, and how will it affect the finances of our government,” Coloma said. – Rappler.com