PIA Dispatch (19 May 2010)

PGMA assures state workers of salary increases until 2013

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo assured government workers of pay increases for the next three years as prescribed under the Salary Standardization Law III which she signed into law June last year.
The SSL III is expected to benefit more than 1.5 million government employees. The salary increases will be given in four yearly tranches until 2013.

The basic salary, including step increments, where an employee may progress from step 1 to step 8 of the salary grade allocation, will be the primary component of the compensation framework.

The framework seeks to rationalize and standardize the basic salaries, allowances, benefits and incentives for government officials and employees.

In her speech keynoting the 16th anniversary of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) held at the commission’s headquarters yesterday afternoon, the President attributed the benefit to the “bitter but necessary economic and financial reforms” implemented to increase revenues.

She said the expanded value added tax law (E-VAT) which increased the VAT on taxable items to 12 percent was the main source of “fresh funds which we reinvested in our people through expanded and improved education, social services, infrastructure and salary increases.”

“The latest (salary) increase was granted in July last year and that covered everyone in government service including teachers in the SUCs (state universities and colleges), specialized schools and of course as well as the staff in the Commission on Higher Education,” the President said to thunderous applause from the more than 300 officers and employees of CHED.

“Because of the Salary Standardization Law that we enacted during my administration, even when I am no longer President, you will continue to receive increases for the next three years,” she added.

The President said that the next round of salary increases for government workers is slated to be given this July.


Transition committee on track – Palace

Malacañang today said preparations for the smooth transition of power to the incoming administration are currently ongoing and are “on track.”

In a press briefing in Malacañang this afternoon, Presidential Management Staff assistant secretary Wilfrido Oca said necessary documents are already being prepared by concerned agencies to assist the government in formulating a “transition blueprint.”

“The different agencies of government have already created their agency transition cooperation team and these ATCTs will be drafting or submitting their organizational transition reports and functional transition reports to the Presidential Transition Cooperation Team,” Oca said.

“Aside from that, there will be a meeting of the different clusters involved in the submission of the OTRs and FTRs scheduled on Thursday. On Friday, there will be a planning session of PTCT pursuant to Administrative Order 285,” he added.

“From there up to the planning session, it is expected that a transition blueprint will be presented during the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, May 25,” Oca said.

Oca added that aside from preparing the transition documents, “planning for the inauguration of the incoming president as well as the security aspect of the transition will be discussed.”

Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza expressed the government’s willingness to extend any assistance to ensure a flawless transition.

“As what we had said in our transition document, we are ready to provide them the necessary coordination: the place, the time and the participants,” Mendoza said.

“We are on track. The timeline is on schedule,” he added.


Arroyo rejects Lakas offer to run for House Speaker

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has rejected an offer to be the candidate of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD for Speaker in the House of Representatives, according to Presidential Political Affairs Adviser Prospero Pichay Jr.

In a news briefing today in Malacanang, Pichay said the President instead wants to play a role similar to that of Sonia Gandhi who heads a powerful congress party in India but not necessary holding a high position in government.

“The President said that she would rather let us choose from among the members of Lakas-Kampi-CMD our candidate for Speaker,” he said.

President Arroyo according to Pichay, was cool to the party offer, despite the urging of many party members in the House of Representatives.

Arroyo, an incoming Pampanga congresswoman, heads Lakas-Kampi-CMD and has been considered top candidate for Speakership.

The party has yet to agree however on who to field for the Speakership.

“At the moment, we are just trying to strengthen the party. Many neophytes won. Last night, we have 21 of them who attended a party gathering. These new congressmen still have to be oriented on the workings in Congress,” Pichay said.

Pichay expressed confidence that a Lakas candidate would get the Speakership, saying they still have the number.

“Considering the fact that majority of our candidates were elected - there are 109 of them – plus some allies in the partylist, we believe we have the numbers,” Pichay said.


Congress is credible body to probe alleged poll fraud, Palace says

Malacañang, firm in its position that the first automated election was a huge success, today urged the public to do away with speculations about alleged fraud in the May 10 polls as the issue is now being investigated by Congress.

“Let us wait for the results of the investigation. Anyway, there is already a very credible panel doing this investigation in Congress,” Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza said today during a news conference in Malacañang.

He said the investigation in Congress should reveal whether testimonies or any evidence of poll frauds are credible.

Mendoza maintained that the first automated elections in the country last May 10 was very successful.

“And unless proven otherwise, it is credible”, Mendoza said.

The House of Representatives started today an inquiry into allegations of electronic frauds during the first automated elections last May 10.

The House has invited the representatives of the Commission on Elections, technology contractor Smartmatic-TIM and the private-sector citizen arm, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), to the initial hearing of the committee on suffrage and electoral reform.