Two senators on Friday, August 2 welcomed the latest tranche of salary increases for government employees.

“The prompt action to implement a salary increase for government workers is a commendable demonstration of the government’s commitment to ensuring the welfare of our civil servants,” Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada said in a statement.

Even though there’s no need for the Senate to act on the passage into law of Senate Bill No. 2611 or the proposed Salary Standardization Law VI anymore, Estrada said the intention of the bill will materialize with the Salary Standardization Law of 2019 lapsing into law as Republic Act No. 11466.

Senate Bill No. 2611 proposes a 10 to 46 percent increase in the current take home pay of state workers.

“I am grateful that the Executive also heeded my recommendation to implement the four-tranche salary increase through the issuance of an EO and to apply it retroactively,” he said.

“This action shows our appreciation for the hard work and dedication of our government workforce and helps create a fairer and more competitive compensation system,” added the lawmaker.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, in a press briefing in Malacañang on Thursday, announced that starting next year, state workers will get the first two of a four-tranche salary increase totaling P70 billion which will be taken from the proposed 2025 national budget.

According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) chief, next year’s proposed budget has a P9.6 billion allotment for a medical allowance of P7,000 each for government personnel.

It could be recalled that President Marcos promised both the pay hike and medical allowance during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday, July 22.

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go also commended the DBM for the latest development which he said aligns with the bill he filed proposing SSL 6

“Even without the passage of the proposed new law, we welcome this development initiated by the Executive to fund and implement a new tranche of salary increases for government employees,” Go said.

“Pagkilala ito sa serbisyo ng mga ordinaryong kawani ng gobyerno na nagsasakripisyo upang magsilbi sa bayan (This move recognizes the service provided for by ordinary government officials who sacrifice much just to serve the nation),” the senator said.

“Malaking tulong ito sa mga empleyado sa pampublikong sektor para malampasan ang mga hamon tulad ng inflation o pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin (This will greatly help employees in the public sector to overcome the challenges brought about by inflation),” added Go.

Nevertheless, Go appealed to government agencies to maximize whatever available budget they have to improve their services and make sure this would benefit the marginalized sector.

“Ang ating mga kawani sa goberyno ay matagal nang nangangailangan ng isa pang pagtaas ng sahod. Suportado ko ito patungo sa pagpapabuti ng kanilang kalagayan sa buhay (Our state workers have been in dire need of a salary increase for a long time now. I support this move to improve their lives),” the senator said.

“Hindi lang ito tungkol sa pagtaas ng sahod, kundi pati na rin sa pagpapalakas ng integridad at kahusayan sa ating mga serbisyong pampubliko (This isn’t just about salary increases, but also about strengthening the integrity and efficiency of public service),” Go stressed.