As the government continues to operate on a reenacted budget, President Duterte has issued Executive Order No. 76 which ensures that government workers will get the last and fourth tranche of the salary hike.
In his EO signed March 15, Duterte ordered that the necessary funds for the salary hike be taken from any available appropriations under the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2018, which will be identified by the Department of Budget and Management.
“The funding requirements for the compensation adjustment in FYs 2017, 2018, and 2019 will be included in the proposed annual National Expenditure Program submitted to Congress for its approval,” Duterte said in the EO.
“Pending the enactment of the FY 2019 GAA, the funding requirements for the compensation adjustment for FY 2019 shall be charged against any available appropriations under the FY 2018 GAA, as reenacted, to be determined by the DBM, subject to existing budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and regulation,” it furthered.
The DBM, on the other hand, is authorized to implement or adjust the compensation corresponding to the appropriations provided in the GAA.
Section 11 of EO No. 201, Series of 2016, provides that the fourth tranche salary schedule for civilian government personnel shall be implemented by the first day of 2019. It is said that it will be funded by the FY 2019 GAA.
In signing the EO, Duterte cited that the Congress is yet to submit the proposed 2019 budget, thus, prompting the reenactment of the budget for the previous year.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that Duterte signed the EO to put an end to the long wait of government workers for their salary increase.
“The President does not want to prolong the overdue salary increase that our public servants, who have been w
Panelo renewed their call to the Congress to settle their differences and think of the public’s welfare.
“We reiterate our vigorous call to the two chambers of Congress to end this impasse on the budget with dispatch that the General Appropriations Bill may finally be transmitted for PRRD’s review and approval to assist this government better the lives of our countrymen and help the nation move forward,” he said. (Argyll Geducos)
