House OKs measure raising public servants' salaries
05/21/2009 | 05:42 PM
MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading the measure seeking to raise the salaries of public servants, including politicians.
In a text message to reporters, House Speaker Prospero Nograles hailed the passage of the Salary Standardization Law III that was passed Wednesday evening, or almost a week after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo certified the bill as urgent.
“Position classification and salary grades in both national and local governments are rationalized to effect the biggest ever upwards hikes or adjustments," Nograles said, adding that the bill would "help our public servants cope with increases in costs of living."
The new system will increase salaries for government employees ranging from the rank-and-file to elected officials. It will also apply to all civilian government personnel, whether regular, casual or contractual, appointive or elective, full-time or part-time.
SSL III groups positions in government into three categories: the sub-professional category, which includes those involved in manual or clerical work or those engaged in arts, crafts, and trades; the professional category, which involves those exercising their profession through formal education or training; and the executive category, which includes managerial positions in executive, legislative, and judicial functions.
Under the proposal, the present 33 salary grades and eight steps per salary grade will be retained, but salary grades will be rationalized to avoid overlaps.
It will be implemented within four years starting July 1, 2009, but salary hikes for the incumbent president, vice president, and members of Congress will only take effect after their terms. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV
In a text message to reporters, House Speaker Prospero Nograles hailed the passage of the Salary Standardization Law III that was passed Wednesday evening, or almost a week after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo certified the bill as urgent.
“Position classification and salary grades in both national and local governments are rationalized to effect the biggest ever upwards hikes or adjustments," Nograles said, adding that the bill would "help our public servants cope with increases in costs of living."
The new system will increase salaries for government employees ranging from the rank-and-file to elected officials. It will also apply to all civilian government personnel, whether regular, casual or contractual, appointive or elective, full-time or part-time.
SSL III groups positions in government into three categories: the sub-professional category, which includes those involved in manual or clerical work or those engaged in arts, crafts, and trades; the professional category, which involves those exercising their profession through formal education or training; and the executive category, which includes managerial positions in executive, legislative, and judicial functions.
Under the proposal, the present 33 salary grades and eight steps per salary grade will be retained, but salary grades will be rationalized to avoid overlaps.
It will be implemented within four years starting July 1, 2009, but salary hikes for the incumbent president, vice president, and members of Congress will only take effect after their terms. - Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV
