Wednesday, April 23, 2008 Emergency allowance sought for Benguet Capitol workers
WITH the skyrocketing in the prices of basic commodities, even government employees and officials need an increase in their salaries to cope with the crisis.
Benguet Board Member Marciano Inso called for the grant of an emergency allowance to government workers, whom he said are also affected by rising prices of goods.
He said even those working with the government offices, like the minimum wage earners in the private sector also suffer the consequences of the crisis.
Inso proposed a resolution asking the Provincial Board (PB) to study the possibility of granting an emergency cost of living allowance for the provincial officials and employees.
"The National Government in its effort to alleviate the economic pressure felt by private wage earners is looking into a wage increase set by regional tripartite wage and productivity boards. Government employees likewise suffer the effects of the crisis and therefore need a solution which is similarly immediate and effective," the board member said.
The proposal was referred to the PB committee on appropriations for further study and proper action.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo earlier called on wage boards in the country to study the possibility of increasing the daily wage of workers in an effort to address the spiraling cost of basic commodities and services.
Early this year, workers in the Cordillera region were granted P10 cost of living allowance (Cola), making the minimum daily rate for non-agricultural sector at P245 per day. (JC)
