DBM orders swift issuance of guidelines for gov't pay hike

MANILA – Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Saturday ordered the swift issuance of guidelines for the salary adjustments of government workers.

This was after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday signed Executive Order (EO) 64, which grants a salary increase and medical allowance to government employees.

"I already instructed our concerned DBM (Deprtment of Budget and Management) officials to swiftly complete the guidelines for the approved salary increase," Pangandaman said in a statement.

"We will rush the implementing guidelines so that government employees will see their first round of salary increases this 2024," she added.

Pangandaman said approximately P36 billion from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) under the 2024 General Appropriations Act would be allotted for the implementation of the first tranche of salary increase.

She added that the DBM has earmarked around P70 billion under the 2025 MPBF to cover the additional cost requirements for both first and second tranches.

Pangandaman said the first tranche of salary increase would be retroactively given to government personnel this year.

The second, third and fourth tranches will be implemented on Jan. 1 of 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively.

"Secured po ang increase this year at may increase din next year (The increase this year and next year is already secured)," Pangandaman said.

"Ang computation po para sa initial tranche natin ay (The computation for our initial tranche is) retroactive to Jan. 1, 2024, so merong (there would be) salary differential or back pay," she added.

Pangandaman expressed gratitude to Marcos for making her dream to increase government workers' salaries "finally become a reality."

Government workers will also receive P7,000 worth of medical allowance annually beginning 2025, according to EO 64. (PNA)