Capitol workers’ pay hike took effect January 1

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM), through Director IV Myrna Chua, opined that the fourth tranche salary increase of the Negros Occidental’s Capitol employees took effect on January 1, 2013.

The DBM's opinion is in answer to the queries of Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko in clarification of the confusions about the effectivity of the salary increase of the Capitol employees after the City Council failed to act on the Provincial Government’s proposed 2013 budget until present time.

The DBM said that Section 320 of Republic Act 7160 or the "Local Government Code of 1991" states that the ordinance enacting the annual budget shall take effect at the beginning of the ensuing calendar year, and that as the SP of Negros Occidental has determined, the implementation of the fourth tranche salary schedule shall take effect FY 2013.

Moreover, that Section 10 of the DBM Circular No. 99 regarding the implementation of the salary increase later than January 1, 2013 cannot be invoked, because such amount is already included in the 2013 annual budget, aside from the fact that the SP is desirous to implement the fourth tranche at the beginning of the year as what is proper and right for the benefit of all covered officials and employees of the Provincial Government.

Section 4 of the Executive Order No. 76 states that the “Implementation of the Fourth Tranche monthly salary schedule for civilian personnel and Base Pay Schedule for Military and Uniformed Personnel” dated April 30, 2012, states that the fourth tranche monthly salary schedule for Local Government personnel for each LGU income class shall take effect not earlier than January 1, 2013.

Ko said that he took the step of bringing up the issue with the DBM to clarify matters about the salary increase.

"It's supposed to be the job of the Capitol employees, especially the officials of the Progressive Alliance of Capitol Alliance (PACE), to bring up the matter with the DBM," Ko said.

Lacson: DBM letter a vindication

Meanwhile, Board Member Patrick Lacson said Friday that the DBM opinion is a vindication on his part.

"Gov. Marañon was proven wrong with the opinion of the DBM. He has declared that the salary increase would not be retroactive since the SP failed to act on the budget in January," said Lacson, adding that "Marañon owes an apology to the Capitol employees."