(Eagle News) – There could be a “slight delay” in the signing of the 2019 proposed national budget amounting to P3.757-trillion, but this will not affect the scheduled pay hike of government workers next year, according to House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya.
He said a total of P121.7 billion had already been allocated for the salary adjustments in 2019. Of this amount, P51.7 billion already covered the fourth and final tranche of the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) IV which will benefit civilian employees.
“It will go on as programmed,” Andaya said in a statement referring to the salary increase of government workers, “even in the event of a slight delay in the signing into law of the 2019 budget.”
“The increase will be included in the first paycheck of the year which will be released on January 15,” he added.
Andaya stressed that “the fate of the 2019 national budget will have no impact on the scheduled round of pay hikes next year for government personnel, civilian and military.”
Of the P121.7 billion allocated for the salary adjustments, P70 billion is for the second installment of the law which increased the base pay of soldiers, policemen, jail and fire officers, and coast guards.
The P121.7 billion already covered the “base pay, allowances, premium contributions of government workers, and pension for military and police retirees.”
Andaya explained that there are separate laws covering the pay hikes of civilian and military government employees.
Because of this, the salary increases can be implemented even if there is a delay in the passage of the General Appropriations Act.
The four-stage modified Salary Standardization is specified in Executive Order 201 signed by former President Benigno Aquino III in February 2016.
On the other hand, joint Resolution No. 1 of Congress, which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte last January, provided for the salary hike of uniformed personnel in the Department of National Defense, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Transportation, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
“Fake news ang chismis na nakasalalay sa budget ang naka-programang pagtaas ng suweldo ng mga kawani ng gobyerno sa susunod na taon,” Andaya said.
He said that the P121.7 billion allotment for the salary increases of government civilian and military personnel is almost a tenth of the P1.185 trillion budget for personnel services for 2019.
Last Tuesday, the House of Representatives approved on third reading the proposed 2019 national budget.
On Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri said that the budget bill is expected to be transmitted to the Senate on Monday, Nov. 26.
He said that the Senate aims to pass the proposed budget by Dec. 12.
Both chambers of Congress are set to adjourn on Dec. 15. They will resume session on Jan. 14, 2019.
