Justice chief Remulla highest paid Cabinet member in 2023 —COA

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla received the highest salary and allowances among Cabinet members in 2023 with over P7 million, the Commission on Audit (COA) said.

Based on the COA's 2023 Report on Salaries and Allowances Received by Principal Officers and Members of the Governing Boards of Government Corporations and their Subsidiaries, and by Secretaries, Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries and Other Officials of Equivalent Rank of the National Government Agencies released by state auditors, Remulla is the highest paid among Cabinet members with P7.07 million, followed by Special Assistant to the President 2 with the rank of Secretary Antonio Lagdameo, Jr. with P6.98 million.

Placing third was Secretary Renato Solidum, Jr. of the Department of Science and Technology with P6 million, followed by Department of Public Works and Highways chief Manuel Bonoan with P5 million.

Presidential Assistant 2 Leo Magno, who is also of Secretary rank, ranked fifth with P4.96 million.

Rounding up the top 10 highest cabinet members were:

• Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma with P4.93 million
• Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla with P4.758 million
• Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan Uy with P4.750 million
• Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo with P4.7 million and
• Social Welfare and Development chief Rex Gatchalian with P4.68 million. 

Finance chief Benjamin Diokno barely missed the top 10 list with P4.678 million to place 11th, followed by Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Acuzar with P4.671 million.

Other Cabinet members who earned over P4 million in a year include:

• Budget and Management chief Amenah Pangandaman with P4.66 million 
• Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista with P4.648 million
• Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III with P4.646 million
• Secretary Cheloy Garafil of the Presidential Communications Office with P4.63 million
• Secretary/ Presidential Adviser on Legislative Affairs Mark Mendoza of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office with P4.57 million
• Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco with P4.56 million
• Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Loyzaga with P4.51 million
• Secretary Arsenio Balisacan of the National Economic and Development Authority with P4.5 million
• Secretary Guiling Mamondiong of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos with P4.48 million
• Interior and Local Government chief Benjamin Abalos, Jr. with P4.45 million
• Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual with P4.39 million and
• Secretary Lope Santos III of the National Anti-Poverty Commission with P4.18 million.

Secretary Hans Cacdac of the Department of Migrant Workers, who was only appointed full Secretary last April 25 following the death of former DMW chief Susan Ople, earned P3.44 million.

When Ople died of long-term illness on August 22, 2023, Cacdac was appointed DMW officer-in-charge until his appointment as DMW Secretary last month.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. who was appointed as Defense chief following a short stint by his predecessor Carlito Galvez, Jr., recorded P2.63 million in salary and allowances.

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General/Secretary Suharto Mangudadatu posted P2.52 million in earnings, just slightly ahead of Health Secretary Ted Herbosa with P2.44 million.

Teodoro, Mangudadatu and Herbosa were only appointed to their posts as Secretary in June 2023.

Education Secretary Sara Duterte, who is also the Vice President, only recorded P558,000 in salaries and allowances.

Agriculture chief Francisco Tiu Laurel, who was only named to his post in November 2023, ranked the lowest paid among Cabinet members with a little over P418,000. — BM, GMA Integrated News