The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expressed its full support to a Senate bill that would provide a higher economic relief allowance to government workers.
It said Senate Bill No. 60 of Sen. Francis Escudero will “take care of the economic concerns of civil servants to help them better focus on delivering public service.”
“Augmenting their income also helps restore the purchasing power of their salary so they can provide sufficiently for their family’s needs,” said CHR Executive Director and Spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia.
Senate Bill No. 60 aims to increase the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) of some 1.8-million government employees from P2,000 to P4,000, and takes cognizance of the annual inflation rate through equivalent and automatic yearly adjustments.
"Providing commensurate assistance to civil servants shall help provide economic relief that will give them a higher sense of security. This is crucial to better performance of duty that can redound to more efficient public service," De Guia, a lawyer, said.
"Ensuring the welfare and dignity of government workers, especially in dire times, is vital to nation-building," she said.
She pointed out that SB No. 60 is a form of "genuine recognition" to the significant contributions and sacrifices of government employees, and the CHR is hoping for the urgent passage of the bill.