Second Pay Hike for State Workers Released

Legazpi City (9 July) -- All government workers are starting to receive their second tranche of salary increase under the Salary Standardization Law III effective June 24, 2010 pursuant to EO No.900 of the previous administration.

Assistant Regional Director Angelita Cells of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in Bikol has assured government workers in Region V that the corresponding cash requirement for their salary increase will be released as part of the cash program for the second half of the year.

Cells said that the SSL III, approved in June 2009, is a four-year plan to rationalize public sector pay through adjustments in the 33-grade government pay scale.

She added that the first tranche of the modified Salary Schedule and Base Pay Schedule have been implemented effective July 1, 2009 for personnel of national government agencies, government owned and controlled corporations, government financing institutions, and effective January 1, 2010 for personnel in local government units (LGUs).

Cells furthered that the implementation of the second tranche for LGU personnel, set to take effect on January 11, 2011, shall be determined by the local sanggunian, on the basis of the LGU income class and financial capability, provided that such salary rates shall not exceed the personnel services budget cap or limitation in LGU budgets as provided under RA 7160.

While all employees will benefit from the pay raise, higher rates of increase are given to certain professionals like teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers and accountants who would enjoy some 54 percent to 77 percent increase in their salaries with the full implementation of the law.

Aside from increasing salaries, these positions were upgraded in recognition of their importance in society in the case of teachers and medical personnel, and their market demand in case of lawyers and accountants.

DBM said that a soldier with the rank of Private in the Department of National Defense or a Police Officer I in the Philippine National Police would be entitled to a monthly increase of P1,342 over their current base pay; while a Nurse I would receive a P1,451 monthly salary increase.

The second tranche implementation will not apply to officials and employees whose terms of office are co-terminus with the immediate past president of the Philippines.

Also excluded from receiving the salary increase are those hired without employee-employer relationships and funded from non-personal services appropriations and budgets. (PIA V)