Anti-drug agents' salaries will increase to over P33,000 in proposed new agency —Sotto

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday said the salary of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents will increase from around P20,000 to over P33,000 once they are absorbed in the proposed new anti-illegal drug agency.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Sotto said from Salary Grade 11, PDEA agents’ salary will be increased to Salary Grade 16 in the proposed Presidential Drug Enforcement Authority (PRDEA).

“Maa-upgrade pa nga sila. Yung mga PDEA agents, ano ba yan Salary Grade 11? Gagawing Salary Grade 16,” said Sotto, who proposed the bill seeking the creation of PRDEA.

According to Department of Budget and Management, Salary Grade 11 is pegged at P20,754 while Salary Grade 16 at P33,584 for national government personnel. 

In establishing the PRDEA, the PDEA and the Dangerous Drug Boards will be abolished. However, Sotto said the personnel from both agencies will be absorbed to the new one.

“Walang mawawalan ng trabaho. Absorb silang lahat,” he said.

The PDEA and the DDB opposed the creation of the PRDEA, claiming this would compromise the progress made in the anti-illegal drugs campaign. 

However, Sotto said PRDEA would ensure better coordination among officials involved in the fight against the illegal drug menace. 

At the present setting of DDB, PDEA only served as the enforcement arm of the anti-illegal drug effort with different agencies in charge for other functions such as Department of Education for the prevention, Department of Health for the rehabilitation, and the Department of Justice for the prosecution, he said.

Sotto pointed out that having board members from different government departments made the coordination difficult, resulting in poor results in solving the illegal drugs problem.

When approved, PRDEA, which will be headed by a Cabinet secretary, will handle the prevention, enforcement, rehabilitation and prosecution involving the anti-illegal drugs effort.

“Palalakasin natin ang powers nila,” Sotto said. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News