More than 9,000 permanent employees of the Manila city government will receive the third tranche of their salary increase starting Sept. 1, Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno" Domagoso announced.

Domagoso announced the weekly flag-raising ceremony at Manila City Hall on Monday, Aug. 17, saying the salary adjustment will provide employees with at least a 4% increase, with the city government’s additional personnel expense reaching nearly P100 million.

“Kami ni Paul ay nag-uusap last week kasama ng inyong mga department heads and bureau heads. Gusto kong i-inform ang lahat ng ating mga empleyado na we are going to implement on time the third tranche, effective September 1 (Paul and I spoke last week with your department heads and bureau heads. I want to inform all our employees that we are going to implement the third tranche on time, effective September 1),” Domagoso said. 

The salary adjustment will cover 9,364 permanent employees of the City of Manila.

Domagoso acknowledged the city’s tight fiscal position but said disciplined spending has allowed the local government to continue funding its programs and obligations.

“Magtataka kayo, wala tayong halos talaga, hand-to-mouth, pero as I have said, God will always provide. Sa masinop, mainam, at epektibong paggasta, unti-unti natatawid natin ang pangangailangan ng siyudad. Natatawid natin ’yung mga programa ng siyudad (You may wonder because we really have very little, almost living hand-to-mouth, but as I have said, God will always provide. Through prudent, proper, and effective spending, we are gradually meeting the needs of the city. We can carry out the city’s programs),” Domagoso said. 

He directed city officials and employees to begin processing the necessary paperwork ahead of the Sept. 1 implementation.

“Gumayak na kayo. Paikutin na ang papel nang maramdaman na sa September 1 ang umpisa ng lahat. So, congratulations to our 9,364 employees, and we will submit it to the City Council to appropriate such amount that is almost 100 million pesos increase in our obligation (Get ready. Start processing the paperwork so you can feel the implementation beginning on September 1. So, congratulations to our 9,364 employees, and we will submit this to the City Council to appropriate the amount, which will increase our obligation by almost P100 million),” he said. 

Domagoso said the salary adjustment is part of the city’s commitment to its workforce, whose services support the implementation of government programs and projects.

“Mga kapwa ko lingkod-bayan, congratulations! Keep it up, kailangan tayo ng tao. So I want you to be healthy, and I want you also to be effective, because we are together on a common goal, which is public service to our people in Manila,” Domagoso said. (To my fellow public servants, congratulations! Keep it up. The people need us. So I want you to be healthy, and I want you also to be effective, because we are together on a common goal, which is public service to our people in Manila.)

He also reminded employees to take precautions amid the ongoing rainy season, noting that Doxycycline is available at city clinics and health centers for those who may have been exposed to floodwaters.

“’Pag kailangan niyo ng doxycycline, ’yun ’yung gamot. Andiyan sa ating clinic o sa ating mga health center. Buong linggo yata umuulan, but stay safe (If you need Doxycycline, that is the medicine, and it is available at our clinics or health centers. It seems to have been raining all week, but stay safe),” he said. 

The corresponding appropriation for the salary adjustment will be submitted to the Manila City Council for approval.