ocal government employees have good reason to toast the new year as they are set to receive hefty salary increases in 2011, mandated by one of the last acts of the Arroyo administration.
One of the last acts of the previous administration was a budget circular ordering local officials to increase the salaries of employees down to barangay personnel, who officially receive only monthly honoraria.
The increases range from 75 percent for the poorest towns to a hefty 100 percent for the richest or a doubling of the salaries of all their employees. Consultants are not included in the increases.
But the date of implementation of the increase will be decided by local government councils, taking into account the income of their LGUs. The councils also have the option of giving the salary hikes in tranches.
As of posting time, GMANews.TV was trying to reach the Department of Budget and Management to inquire about the availability of funds for such a massive new outlay for personnel.
Local Government Unit (LGU) employees were also given salary increases last year, in accordance with the Salary Standardization Law.
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Local Budget Circular No. 95 signed on June 29 last year -- or a day before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo stepped down -- directs all governors, mayors and barangay chairpersons to implement the salary increase in 2011.
Based on the DBM circular, the salary increase covers “all positions for salaried local government unit (LGU) personnel, whether regular, contractual or casual in nature, appointive or elective, full-time or part-time."
The same circular likewise stated that local government councils will determine the schedule of the implementation of the salary increase based on the status of the LGU’s income class and financial capability.
Local government units with “insufficient" funds may implement a “modified salary schedule" to be determined by the local council, the circular stated. - HS, GMANews.TV
