Press Release
June 7, 2009

Government agencies to provide better service with SSL - Gordon

Senator Richard J. Gordon ( Ind. ) today eyes improved services rendered by government agencies once the modified Compensation and Position Classification System or the Salary Standardization Law III is implemented.

Gordon, co-author of the measure that was ratified in the Senate last week, explained that this is because the bill provides that both Year End Bonus and Cash Gift shall be funded from the general appropriations and not from the savings of government agencies or local government units (LGUs).

"This provision would prevent government agencies and LGUs from hoarding their budget so they will have enough savings at the end of the year," he said.

"Yung iba tuloy kahit may kailangang pag-gastusan, hihintayin na lamang ang budget sa susunod na taon at hindi na gagastusin yung nakalaang pondo para lamang may savings ang opisina para sa Year End Bonus at Cash Gift," he added.

Congress thoroughly scrutinizes the proposed budget of government agencies and LGUs before approving them to ensure that public funds will really be utilized for the people's benefit.

The SSL III, principally authored and sponsored by Sen. Edgardo Angara, provides for a performance-based scheme to reward well-performing exemplary civil servants and institutions.

It adopts a Total Compensation Framework consisting of Basic Pay including Step Increments, Standard Allowances and Benefits, Specific-Purpose Allowances and Benefits and Incentives.

Gordon acted as chairman of the bicameral conference committee that reconciled the two versions of the proposed measure, which will take effect on July 1, 2009 for national government entities and on Jan. 1, 2010 for LGUs..

Senators Miguel Zubiri and Pia Cayetano composed the Senate contingent to the bicameral committee, while Quirino Rep. Junie Cua headed the House delegation with Representatives Edcel Lagman and Salvador Escudero III as his members.

The new salary schedule and base pay schedule shall be implemented in four equal yearly tranches. But full implementation may take less than four years because of a provision that for every P50-billion increase in the government budget, five percent shall go to government salary increases.

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