Trillanes bats pay hike of civil servants, soldiers

Recognizing the significant role that our civil servants, and military and uniformed personnel play in nation building, Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV filed a bill seeking to increase their salary and make the government compensation system competitive with the private sector.

Under Senate Bill No. 1689, or the proposed Salary Standardization Law 4, the government shall adopt an omnibus compensation and position classification system for civil servants, and military and uniformed personnel. The improved salary scale provides the lowest government rank, Job Grade 1, with a base pay of Php16,000 from the present rate of Php9,000; and the highest government rank, the President, with a base pay of Php500,000 from the present rate of Php120,000. For military and uniformed personnel, base pay ranges from Php23,000 for a private to Php282,800 for a four-star general.

With the improved civil service structure and compensation system that is at par with the private sector, Trillanes said this will enable the government to attract, retain, and maintain a corps of competent civil servants and military and uniformed personnel. He also hopes that this will prevent the exodus of professionals, scientists and highly skilled workers to better paying jobs abroad, such as what is happening to our teachers, doctors and PAG-ASA meteorologists.

Trillanes, explained further that the bill is also an anti-corruption measure: "Due to the competitive compensation package, our public servants will no longer consider resorting to unscrupulous activities in order to augment their meager income, and, instead, focus their efforts and energy to public service, curbing corruption and cutting red tape."

"Our civil servants serve as the front line of our government in providing our people with basic needs and public services. They are the backbone of governance and administration. Thus, it is a matter of duty for the government to ensure that our civil servants are being cared for, and are able to provide for their personal and family needs. In the end, it is the people who will benefit from a better compensated and corruption-free bureaucracy," Trillanes, chairman of the Senate committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization, emphasized.