Drilon calls on DBM not to hostage salary hike of state workers

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon called on the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) not to hold “hostage” the salary increase for government employees due to the non-passage of the 2019 budget.

Drilon said the budget agency can implement the fourth tranche of salary adjustment immediately because the fund and authorization are available.

“The DBM does not have to wait for Congress to approve the 2019 General Appropriations Act. The non-passage of the 2019 national budget is a non-issue in the implementation of the salary increase because the money is there and the authorization is there,” he said in a press statement Tuesday.

The senator said the salary increase of government workers should not be exploited nor used as a bargaining tool to put pressure on Congress, particularly the Senate, to rush the approval of the 2019 spending outlay.

“Given the controversies surrounding the proposed 2019 national budget, it behooves us in the Senate to really dig deeper and scrutinize each and every item in the budget,” Drilon said.

He said the salary increase should be released particularly in the light of the implementation of the second tranche of the excise taxes on petroleum products, which may affect the prices of goods in the market.

“I appeal to the DBM to implement the last tranche of the salary increase to help our state workers cope with inflation,” he added.

Drilon agreed with House Majority Leader and former budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. who earlier insisted that “a delay in the 2019 budget’s approval would not affect the release of the funds for the salary hike of soldiers, policemen, teachers, and civilian employees of the government.”

The Senate minority leader said the DBM will not violate any law if it implements the increase.

“It is already specified in the resolution signed by then President Benigno S. Aquino III that the increase should be implemented in four tranches up to 2019,” Drilon said.

He added a reenacted budget could fund the salary increase as the DBM could tap some excess funds in the Miscellaneous and Personnel Benefit Fund (MPBF), or the Congress can pass a supplemental budget to augment the budgetary requirement.

Andaya has threatened to sue Diokno if the DBM fails to implement the salary hike. 

"My advice to Secretary Diokno: do not make the reenacted budget as an excuse in not implementing salary increases for our civil servants," Andaya said in a statement. "The DBM has all the tools in pushing through with the salary increases this year."

"In case he is too proud to take an advice from a congressman, then we might just see each other in court," he added. "I will personally file a case for mandamus in the Supreme Court if the DBM will not implement the salary increase by January 15." —LDF, GMA News