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PAGASA workers receive benefits at last
By SHAIRA PANELA, GMA News
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PAGASA workers have received their suspended benefits in two instalments, said Mon Agustin, PAGASA Weathermen Employees Association president said. (See related story here.)
The first instalment of the benefits —including longevity pay, subsistence allowance, and hazard pay— was given on Aug. 17. The second instalment was given on Aug. 31.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released P39.5 million on August for the Magna Carta benefits of the PAGASA employees. Magna Carta for Scientists
The Philippine Magna Carta for Scientists, or Republic Act 8439, provided for benefits to be given workers in the science and technology sector —including PAGASA employees. (See related story here).
Agustin said that his group had demanded four months' worth of suspended allowances. Agustin and other weather forecasters staged a protest on Aug. 14 just as a tropical storm was about to hit the country.
On the same day, President Benigno S. Aquino III visited PAGASA to check the status of forecasting for the upcoming storm, as well as to speak with the protesting employees.
Future entitlement
Meanwhile, although the suspended benefits have already been distributed, the DBM has yet to re-evaluate who among the PAGASA employees are entitled to hazard pay in the future. (See PIA press release here.) Budget Secretary Florencio Abad was quoted in an earlier report as saying, "PAGASA currently provides hazard allowances for its employees across the board —whether or not they are exposed to risks in the course of their duties—in clear violation of the law and their own guidelines. We need to confirm which employees, by the nature of their work, are entitled to hazard pay, as well as when they’re supposed to receive this." Provisions for hazard pay
Hazard pay, according to the Magna Carta, is given to science workers involved in hazardous undertakings. It should account from 10 to 30 percent of their monthly basic salary depending on the nature and extent of hazard involved. Hazardous workplaces, according to the law are as follows:
- Radiation-exposed laboratories and service workshops;
- Remote/depressed areas;
- Areas declared under a state of calamity or emergency;
- Strife-torn or embattled areas;
- Laboratories and other disease-infested areas.
However, the DBM noted that PAGASA violated this provision.
Because of this, Agustin said, “We are not assured kung lahat ay makatatanggap pa ng hazard pay (in the future).”
As of June, all PAGASA employees were entitled to hazard pay. But the DBM is drafting new standards for the months of July to December, and is the sole agency tasked to decide which employees are so entitled.
For the months of July to December, it will be DBM that will set the standards on who should receive the pay.
“Hopefully, for us, siyempre across the board (sana),” Agustin said.
He said that the Association will not go against the DBM's recommendations.
“We will follow whatever the guidelines may be,” he added. — TJD, GMA News
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