THE Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees (PACE), composed of about 2,000 employees of the provincial government, expressed optimism that the proposed salary increase for government employees will still be implemented in 2016.
This despite the admission of Provincial Capitol officials that the Provincial Government has already reached the limit set for hiring personnel services.
PACE president Renelo Lastiere said Tuesday that while they are concerned that the provincial government of Negros Occidental has already reached the budget limit of 45 percent set by the Local Government Code for personnel services, "we will ask to meet Governor Alfredo Maranon Jr. to discuss the matter."
Lastiere made the statement after President Benigno Aquino approved the salary increase for government employees to be implemented in three years.
"The governor has always been supportive to any benefits for the workers. The province is always a pioneer in whatever benefits due the employees," Lastiere pointed out.
He added that the problem is that "most local government units have already finalized their budgets and they too have already exceeded the ceiling."
"The National Government should make adjustments in the share of LGUs in the Internal Revenue Allotment(IRA) to cope with the proposed salary hike and that vacant positions should not be filled up so that it will be utilized as savings from the personnel services, " he suggested.