Hike in allowance for government workers backed

City officials strongly supported the passage into a law of Senate Bill (SB) No. 60 introduced by comebacking Senator Francis Joseph ‘Chiz” Guevarra Escudero entitled ‘An Act Providing An Increase and An Automatic Adjustment Mechanism in the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) Granted to Government Employees.’

Under Resolution No. 323, series of 2022, local legislators stated that recognizing its importance and value, the aforesaid bill was re-filed by Senator Escudero in the 19th Congress on July 7, 2022 which is now presently pending before the Senate committees on civil service, government reorganization and professional regulations and finance.

During the 15th Congress, Senator Escudero introduced SB No. 3125 entitled ‘An Act Providing an Increase and an Automatic Adjustment Mechanism in the PERA Granted to Government Employees.”

The said bill realizes that the true worth and intent of the PERA is for economic relief which makes automatic yearly adjustment equivalent to any increase of the annual inflation rate in the country.

The bill added that the additional amount in the PERA will definitely supplement the income of lowly paid government employees, ease their increasing expenses and cope with the high cost of basic and essential commodities brought about by the present economic condition of the country.

Over the past 2 years, the global village, including the Philippines, had been heavily impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that caused most of the people to lose their jobs and their established sources of livelihood following the implementation of a series of lockdowns that resulted in economic slowdown.

At present, government officials and employees who hold permanent, co-terminus or casual appointments are entitled to a monthly PERA of P2,500.Copies of the approved resolution will be transmitted to the Senate and the House of Representatives for their information, guidance, ready reference and further needed action of lawmakers on the said pending proposal. – Dexter A. See