MANILA, Feb. 5 — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is preparing its recommendations to President Benigno S. Aquino III on the possible implementation of the first tranche of salary adjustments for government workers, as provided for in the proposed Salary Standardization Law 4 bill, Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma Jr. said Thursday.
“A total of P57.9 billion appropriation is included in the General Appropriations Act of 2016 and this will fully cover the first tranche,” Coloma said. “DBM will include a similar item in the proposed National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2017, to cover the second tranche.”
The proposed NEP for 2017 will be turned over to the next administration, he added.
In a separate statement, DBM Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said, “The Executive has options within its power to effect the proposed compensation adjustment.”
Abad cited Section 13 of Presidential Decree No. 985 and Item 17 of Congress Joint Resolution No. 4, s. 2009, authorizing the President to periodically revise or update, upon the recommendation of the DBM, the government’s Compensation and Position Classification System.
Based on these laws, Abad said, the President may effect a compensation adjustment that is still consistent with the compensation adjustment strategy under the proposed Salary Standardization Law of 2015. (PND/PCOO/PRC-PIA)
