Arroyo's Raise, Justified - Andaya
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is “overworked and underpaid.”
Thus said Palace officials yesterday, as they defended President Arroyo in the wake of a proposal to double the salaries of top government officials.
Budget chief Rolanda Andaya said the proposed salary increase in the 2009 national budget is meant to adjust the salary grade of all those employed in the public sector, not just the President.
Andaya insisted that the salaries of all government employees should go up, pointing out it is simply a coincidence that the current salary grade of the President will also be adjusted.
The DBM secretary argued that if Mrs. Arroyo’s salary is not adjusted, she will end up being paid less than her subordinates, including her Cabinet.
He further stressed that raising the salaries of government employees will make the public sector’s pay scale more competitive with those working in the private sector.
Andaya emphasized that the public school teachers and health workers will be the ones who will greatly benefit from the proposed salary adjustment.
The President who gets about P50,000 to P60,000 in basic salary will get a 100-percent pay increase once Congress approves a resolution for the adjustment.
Tonight gathered that taxpayers however, will shoulder all the expenses for the pay hike for the Office of the President and other government officials and employees including the First Family’s stay in Malacañang.
The DBM top official submitted the proposal for the proposed P1.415-trillion national budget, inclusive of the upgrading of the salary for government employees.