The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) must double down on its promise to recommend an increase to the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) in 2027.

Thus, said Makabayan solon ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, who tried to gain a solid commitment from DBM Acting Secretary Kim de Leon during the recent Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) budget briefing of the Committee on Appropriations.

According to Tinio, agency officials disclosed that a study was underway to recommend to President Marcos an increase to the long-stagnant allowance received by civilian government employees.

"Tama po ba ang intindi ko, sabi ni Secretary Kim, may study ngayon and then they will hopefully recommend to the President that by 2027 ay mag-implement ng increase sa PERA o Personal Economic Relief Allowance. Tama po ba ang intindi ko? Yun ang sinabi nyo kanina?" Tinio asked De Leon, who answered in the affirmative.

(Am I correct in understanding, Secretary Kim said there is a study now and they will hopefully recommend to the President that by 2027 an increase in PERA or Personal Economic Relief Allowance will be implemented? Is that what you said earlier.)

"Touch-move na yan (That's a touch-move)," the House deputy minority leader said, who referenced chess lingo meaning there's no walking back on one's decision.

"Ibig sabihin, ang plano talaga or recommendation is by 2027, may increase sa PERA. At matutuwa po ang lahat ng mga government employees na nandito, yung mga regular. Dahil pinag-uusapan natin yung additional P2,000 a month na matagal ng napako," Tinio said.

(It means the plan or recommendation is really to have a PERA increase by 2027. All government employees here, the regular ones, will be glad, since we are talking about the additional P2,000 a month that has long been stagnant.)

The militant solon then questioned the DBM on the proposed funding source, and cited the P55 billion lump sum under the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF).

DBM officials estimated that a P1,000 increase in PERA would require P24 billion annually.

"Kaya ko po tinatanong yan kasi nga, P55 billion ang nasa MPBF. Isang lump sum po yan at sabi nyo, dyan maaaring kunin. And earlier, in my interpretation sinabi ko, historically, yung MPBF, isa sa mga ginagalaw, binabawasan to make room for congressional insertion. So, kaya gusto ko pong idiin, Mr. Chair, na malinaw na ang plano dito, sa P55 billion ay pangpondo sa PERA ng mga government employees. So dapat hindi na ito galawin at bawasan ng Kongreso," Tinio stressed.

(That’s why I am asking, because P55 billion is in the MPBF. It is a lump sum, and you said it could be sourced from there. And earlier, in my interpretation, I said historically the MPBF is one of those adjusted or reduced to make room for congressional insertion. So I want to emphasize, Mr. Chair, that it is clear the plan here is to use the P55 billion to fund PERA for government employees. So Congress should not touch or reduce this.)

Tinio also pointed out the glaring disparity between the treatment of civilian personnel and military and uniformed personnel (MUP).

He noted that the subsistence allowance for MUPs was more than doubled from P150 to P350 per day, with P74 billion allocated across agency budgets for 2027.

"Ang pinupunto ko lang ay ganun kalaki po ang nilaan for the increase in subsistence allowance. Bali second year na po ito. Tama ba? So kailangan na pong ihabol natin yung sa civilian which is PERA. So wala na pong galawan. Yung lang sinasabi na. Babantayan po natin ito," Tinio said.

(My point is that such a large amount has been allocated for the increase in subsistence allowance. This is already the second year. So we need to catch up with the civilian side, which is PERA. So there should be no adjustments. That’s all I am saying. We will guard this.)

The veteran lawmaker vowed to closely guard the MPBF against any reductions or realignments to ensure that civilian government employees, including teachers and non-teaching personnel, will finally see the increase in their PERA by 2027.