Press Release
September 7, 2011

SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN FOR P6K WAGE INCREASE LAUNCHED

A signature campaign was launched by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. to gather support for the immediate passage of the legislative measure that would grant a P6, 000 increase in the minimum pay of all public employees in all government offices.

According to the senator, the signature drive will serve as a collective call of government employees for a wage increase. The signature campaign was launched in a recent consultation forum in the Senate organized by the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) and Sandigan ng mga Empleyadong Nagkakaisa sa Adhikaing ng Demokratikong Organisasyon (SENADO).

"Layunin natin ang makakalap ng signature of support hindi lang mula sa mga empleyado ng Senado kundi sa iba pang mga kawani ng iba't ibang ahensiya ng gobyerno sa buong bansa. Nararapat lang na ipaalam natin na nagkakaisa ang mga kawani ng pamahalaan sa buong bansa sa pagsusulong ng panukalang ito," said Bong Revilla.

The lawmaker stressed that it would be better and timely if the government will address first the financial dilemma of ordinary public employees by increasing their meager salary. He further pointed out that despite the passage of the Salary Standardization Law 3 (SSL3) , salaries received by public sector employees are way behind the government's conservative estimate of the cost of living a family needs in order to survive.

"An employee with the compensation of Salary Grade I Step 1 currently receives P6,861.00 per month which is far from the government's estimated cost of living of P29,130.00 per month. And even if employees receive the last tranche of SSL 3 next year, the minimum pay shall still only be P9,000.00," he explained.

In relation to this, Bong Revilla filed a bill that would grant a P6, 000 increase in the minimum pay of government employees, whether they are working in the national or local government, in government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) or government financial institutions (GFIs), in state universities and colleges or other government offices. Under Senate Bill 2928, there shall be no reduction in any existing allowances and benefits under existing laws, decrees, issuances, executive orders and any contract or agreement between employees and the government No such salary increase shall be credited as compliance with this increase unless expressly provided under a valid collective negotiations agreement.

"Batid natin ang hirap ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Langit at lupa na ang agwat ng mga mahihirap at mayayaman, kaya patuloy tayo sa paghahanap ng mga lehitimong paraan para higit na matulungan ang ating mga kababayang manggagawa at maralita," the lawmaker added.

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