Transcript of Sen. Franklin M. Drilon's press conference
on the signing of the bicam report on the 10% government pay hike

SFMD: Kapipirma lang namin ni Cong. Joey Salceda ng bicameral conference committee report kung saan ang lahat ng kawani ng pamahalaan ay bibigyan ng umento sa kanilang sahod. Sampung porsiyento ang itataas ng suweldo ng manggagawa sa pamahalaan sa Hulyo 1, 2007. Ito po ay ang panukalang batas na aming napagpasyahan na buuin dahilan sa pangangailangan ng ating mga kasamahan sa pamahalaan. Doon po sa uniformed personnel, magkakaroon ng additional subsistence allowance na P30 a day at P120 per month increase in the hazard pay. For the civilian personnel, we just signed a bicameral conference committee report, which will grant a 10% increase to all civilian personnel in all levels effective July 1, 2007. For the uniformed personnel, there will be an increase in the subsistence allowance of P30 per day and P120 per month in hazard pay.

We believe that this increase is necessary given the fact that prices of commodities have gone up. There are enough funds in terms of government collection. We have allocated P10.3 billion in the 2007 budget. This will now be the enabling law in order to effect the increase effective July 1, 2007. This will also include the Government Owned and Controlled Corporations, of course, upon the appropriate action by their respective charters. Also, the barangay officials and employees who are receiving honoraria as a form of compensation will be given a 10 percent increase, sourced out of the IRA. The local government employees will likewise be entitled to this 10 percent increase. For this purpose, the limitation under the Local Government Code, for purposes of setting a ceiling on the amount that can be used for compensation is hereby waived in order to allow the local government units to implement this new law.

We are glad to inform our government employees that there will be an increase forthcoming effective July 1, 2007 in the amount of 10 percent of the basic salary. This would include an increase in the 13th month pay.

Q: Is there a bill on that?

SFMD: What we did, if you will recall, there was a deadlock in the bicam on the P1,000 allowance, which was passed by the House. The Senate version was P2,000 allowance. We had a deadlock there. Therefore, we used that pending measure in order to authorize this increase. I had the authority of the Senate caucus last week to utilize this mode in order that we can immediately effect the increase.

Q: Ano ang compromise doon?

SFMD: Ito ang nagiging compromise. Ito na ang lumabas. The Congress decided on this in order to ease the burden on our civil servants in government. This bicameral conference committee report will now be routed to the different members of the bicameral conference committee. In the Senate, it is composed of Senator Flavier and Senator Pimentel. We do not see any problem in the same being signed by our colleagues in the Senate. And the same being ratified either tomorrow or the latest, Monday. It will be presented to the President for signature some time next week.

Q: How about in the House?

SFMD: They are also securing the signatures of the different members.

Q: Wala nang problema in the manner that it will be implemented?

SFMD: Wala na. I don't see any problem; unless i-veto ni Gloria.

Q: Is there a budget on automated elections?

SFMD: When the National Expenditure Program was submitted to Congress and when Congress passed the General Appropriations Bill, there was no automation law yet. When we passed the version of the Senate, there was no automation law yet. So we could not realistically provide for a budget when there was no law at that time when we passed this national budget.

Q: Can it be covered by a special appropriation?

SFMD: If there is a submission for a special appropriation, I would endorse it. But at this point, if we will just talk about what we passed, the General Appropriations Act of 2007, there is no budget there. (end)