The city government of Laoag is eyeing to involve all employees including those with “job order” status in the salary increase this year.
City government accountant Edgar Pascual said that all city government workers are included in the proposed budget for the implementation of the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) for the local government unit.
“We are all working hard and I am sure everyone needs an increase which will help them in their family’s needs,” said Pascual.
The salary adjustment is based on the Local Budget Circular issued by President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III on February 19, 2016 thru Executive Order No. 201 series of 2016.
The said EO is entitled “Modifying the Salary Schedule for Civilian Government Personnel and Authorizing the Grant of Additional Benefits for Both Civilian and Military and Uniformed Personnel.
Coverage of this circular include all positions for salaried LGU personnel whether regular, contractual or casual in nature, elective or appointive, full time or part time, and positions from barangay personnel who are paid monthly honoraria.
However, those hired without employee-employer relationships and funded from the non-personnel services (such as “job order” employees) are excluded in the circular.
Thus, the city government of Laoag plans to include even those on ‘job order’ status, as they too are working hard for the government, Pascual explained.
According to Pascual, Laoag City Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas has instructed him and other members of the local finance committee to implement the salary increase this year but they are not sure when to fully implement it since they are still looking for the availability of funds.
Pascual said the finance committee has received the guidelines relative to the salary increase and requested all city department offices to implement budget-saving measures to fund the salary adjustment.
He explained that the salary adjustment was not anticipated by the city government and thus was not included in this year’s annual budget.
Based on the initial computation of the City Budget Office, the city government needs at least P15 million to implement the said increase for this year alone plus another P15 million for the additional bonuses.
The guidelines states that aside from the 13th month pay, there should also be a mid-year bonus equivalent to one-month basic salary and should be given not earlier than May 15 of every year.
It also includes the Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) in the amount of P5,000 to qualified government personnel to be given not earlier than December 15 of every year subject to the specific guidelines to be issued by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
The implementation of the said law shall not be earlier than January 1, 2016 subject to the authorization from the Sangguniang Panglungsod.
The last salary increase was implemented during the administration of former President Gloria M. Arroyo. (CHERRY JOY D. GARMA/PIA1-Ilocos Norte)
