By Armando B. Fenequito Jr.
DAVAO CITY - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao -Ministry Basic, Higher and Technical Education (BARMM-MBHTE) Minister Mohagher Iqbal has ordered the early release of salaries for its employees for the month of March.
(Keith Bacongco / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“We made this move to ensure that our employees can act accordingly and finance their necessities in this time of pandemic,” Iqbal said in a statement released on Thursday.
He said this was initiated as President Duterte placed the entire country under a state of public health emergency due to the recent developments on the threat posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“We are the largest ministry in BARMM. We cover 60 percent of the workforce in the Bangsamoro region, therefore, it is our responsibility to aid them as much as our extent in this situation,” he said.
Iqbal said those under contractual service and casual employees covered by job orders will also be inlcuded.
The Minister said he urged the employees to spend their salaries wisely and prudently in this time of emergency.
Iqbal said salary differentials for MBHTE employees were also requested to the Department of Budget and Finance through the Ministry of Finance, and Budget and Management (MFBM).
“The focus of the Bangsamoro government now is to keep our employees and constituents safe while helping them in the best manner that we can,” he said.