|
Sunday, September 19, 2004
Cut pay, comply austerity program or be fired: Arroyo
MANILA -- President Arroyo warned the heads of government owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) on Saturday that they would be fired if they did not cut their pay and implement her strict austerity program.
Malacaņang said the Arroyo administration's austerity program was part of the government's effort to avoid a fiscal crisis caused by a growing deficit and ballooning government debts.
As part of this effort, the Arroyo government would have a "compliance scorecard on pay cuts and austerity measures among government owned and controlled corporations," Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said.
"This will be a tool for deciding who among the presidential appointees would stay or leave," Bunye warned.
According to Bunye compliance has begun and has been commended by the President.
The President earlier warned that she would readily dismiss GOCC and GFI officials for insubordination if they refuse to follow the government's austerity measures, including observing a cut in their pay.
Arroyo said the pay cut covers GOCC and GFI officials who does not have fix terms.
Arroyo last month imposed such austerity measures on government agencies as banning non-essential foreign travel and ordering government offices to trim their use of fuel and electricity by 10 percent.
Arroyo said Friday that executives of government owned and controlled corporations had agreed to take "voluntary pay cuts while reorienting their respective organizations to the imperatives of discipline and effectiveness."
She did not give details.
In the meantime, Malacaņang acknowledged the House leadership for its spirited drive for tax reforms.
The combination of discipline and restraint in the executive branch and the political dynamism of the legislature will get us through this crisis in due time, Bunye said.
A number of legislators have criticized the President for granting excessively high salaries and other perks to these executives, all of who were appointed by Arroyo.
Arroyo is trying to convince legislators to pass new tax measures to avoid the fiscal crisis but many lawmakers as well as much of the public are against these new taxes.
Heads of GOCCs who heeded to Arroyo's call were Philippine National Oil Company president Eduardo Maņalac and Securities and Exchange Commission chair Fe Barin.
They voluntarily trimmed down their salaries and allowances. (Sunnex/AFP)
(September 19, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
