FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF SSL 3 IN 2010 SOUGHT TO EASE EFFECTS OF ONDOY AND PEPENG

Submitted by courage_phil on Wed, 10/14/2009 - 00:50.

 

The government must invest in social
services and its human resource to lessen the economic toll of the typhoons
Ondoy and Pepeng, the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of
Government Employees (COURAGE) said today during a protest action held at the
House of Representatives.

 

“The onslaughts of the two recent
disasters have devastated the homes, properties and lives of thousand of
Filipinos including government employees. Instead of extending significant
benefits and financial assistance, the Arroyo government offered the state
workers recycled programs such as calamity loans. How can we pay these loans
with our meager salaries? Andami na
naming utang, lalo pa kaming mababaon. In fact, many of us have already pawned
the last half of our 13^th month pay and have allotted this as
payment. Releasing this much earlier is not something that DBM can brag about
since this benefit is already due us and not an addition,” said COURAGE
National President Ferdinand Gaite.

 

Amid the severe poverty which was even
aggravated by calamities, the militant workers claimed that the acceleration of
the implementation of the Salary Standardization Law 3 (SSL 3) is needed now
more than ever. COURAGE urged lawmakers to enact a budget which will cover the
payment of the total increases for all employees in 2010 instead of the lengthy
four tranches of implementation (until 2012). “This full implementation of the
SSL 3 would translate to a gross monthly hike of P2581 for minimum earners. There
could be nothing more significant relief than this measure since it is direct
and immediate. Moreover, increasing the employees’ purchasing power can also
spur economic activity which is badly needed after the destruction of millions
of agricultural and industrial properties,” stated Gaite.

 

The
leader pointed out that the increase in the budget for social and personnel
services will only materialize if the government has the political will to
slash the P746.2 billion allocated for debt servicing (interest and principal).
“Not even 10 percent of this sky-high budget is more than enough to cover the
P55.2 billion balance for the full implementation of the wage adjustments under
the SSL 3. We also hope that Congress will think twice on the outright passage
of the P4.259 billion appropriation for the Office of the President (OP),”
explained Gaite.

 

Meanwhile, COURAGE reiterated that
increasing the allocation for social spending and the personnel services will
cushion the vulnerable sectors of the Philippine society against the adverse
economic impacts of future disasters. “The government cannot just point fingers
at anyone or anything for the terrible aftermath of the two typhoons. Its low
priority for the marginalized and sheer neglect of the peoples’ rights and
interests must be primarily blamed for this.” added Gaite. #