The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced on Thursday, Aug. 1, that government workers can expect to get the first tranche of their promised wage hike this year.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman (Malacañang photo)
In a Palace presser, DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman confirmed that some P70 billion has already been allocated for the first tranche of the pay hike.
“Iyong 70 billion po para sa adjustment na iyan ng first tranche at saka second tranche for next year kasi gusto po natin simulan na this year iyong first tranche noong ating salary increase (The 70 billion is for the adjustment of the first and second tranche for next year because we want to begin this year with the first tranche of our salary increase),” she explained.
The official said that it would have a retroactive effect from January 2024.
The salary increase for government workers will be divided into four tranches—from 2024 to 2027.
“As of now po, we are perfecting the executive order po and we are hoping po for the issuance of the executive order soon po,” the secretary added.
Atop the salary increase government workers are expected to benefit from starting this year, Pangandaman also assured that there is budget already for the P7,000 medical allowance to be given yearly to each government worker starting next year.
“Nag-allocate po tayo ng 9.6 billion pesos for next year para po makakuha ang ating mga government employees ng kanilang medical allowance, P7,000 each employee po (We allocated P9.6 billion for next year so our government employees can get their medical allowance, P7,000 each employee),” she shared.
Government workers, she said, neither have medical allowance nor private health insurance, so many could not avail of blood tests, doctor’s consultations, and even emergency services.
“So, we pay for it or maybe PhilHealth po. But, I think, this is a nice add to the benefits and allowances na mayroon po ang mga empleyado (that the employees have),” the DBM chief added.
Meanwhile, she assured that public school teachers are included in the salary hike set for government workers, but clarified that an increase in the entry level salary of teachers would need a legislation.
Newly installed Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara earlier said he would study the proposal to increase the entry level salary of public school teachers.
Pangandaman explained this could not be included in the budget proposal for 2025 because the budget presentation to President Marcos and his Cabinet was done by the time Angara took over DepEd.
“But, we gave him the opportunity to at least rearrange the priority programs within the level that was approved during the Cabinet meeting,” she added.