Lacson urges DBM to release 4th tranche of gov’t workers’ salary hike

(Eagle News)—Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday, Jan. 10, urged the Department of Budget and Management to release the fourth tranche of increase in the salaries of government workers, saying there was funding for the same even if the 2019 budget has not been passed.

“Mr. DBM Secretary, implement the salary increase now. It is not unconstitutional,” Lacson said in a Tweet, referring to Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, who had thumbed down the idea of releasing the same until the 2019 national budget is passed into law.

According to Lacson, there are P99.446 billion under the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund of the 2018 budget.

Of the P99.446 billion, P62.8 billion is for Compensation Adjustment, while P12.36 billion is for Staffing Modification Upgrading of Salaries, Lacson said.

“Obviously, there is legal basis as there are funds to implement the salary hike, especially for the first quarter of 2019,” he said, adding that Executive Order No. 201, signed by then-President Benigno Aquino III, provides for the salary increase for this year.

“It has basis in law and there is P99.446 billion under the MPBF (Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund) in the 2018 budget. Pointing to a re-enacted budget won’t fly,” Lacson added.