No more chance to pass SSL IV, EO is best option —Drilon

Senate President Franklin Drilon said Thursday there is no more chance for the Congress to pass the proposed law increasing the salaries of government employees when it resumes session after the national elections.

“Wala na. Hindi na kaya,” Drilon said during the weekly forum Kapihan sa Senado when asked about the appeal of Budget Secretary Florencio Abad for the bicameral conference committee to pass the proposed bill.

He said it would be too late for them even if they take it up in May as they will be convening as the National Board of Canvassers to canvass votes for the president and vice presidential candidates.

The Senate chief then reiterated his appeal to President Benigno Aquino III to just issue an executive order for the purpose.

“My suggestion is the President exercises his executive power to decree salary increases as it is already authorized under the General Appropriations Act for this year,” he said, referring to the P57 billion allocation for salary increase of government employees.

Drilon said the amount would automatically become savings if it will not be utilized.

“The General Appropriations Act has provided for a salary increase. There is every reason to act on this immediately,” he said.

“The proposed Salary Standardization Law is a measure coming from Malacañang. So the only difference is the proposed SSL was for four years while my proposal is an executive action only for one year while Congress would review this issue of being able to provide for our military pensioners whose monthly pension is sourced from the GAA, not from the GSIS [Government Service Insurance System],” he added.

Asked if there is an election law prohibiting the grant of salary increase 45 days before election day, Drilon said he was not aware of it but added there is still time, if ever.

He also said there is no reason why government employees should be disappointed because there is an appropriation ready for the salary increase.

“I’m certain that as we talk today, the President is carefully reviewing his options in so far as the  salary increase is concerned,” he said.

Solon optimistic

However, House appropriations committee chair Isidro Ungab said he remains optimistic that Congress will pass the proposed pay hike for government workers when sessions resume in May.

He said he is hoping the bicameral conference committee, of which he is a member, would meet even during the break for the election campaign period or when lawmakers go back to work on May 23.

“I’m also hoping we can come up with a compromise, that is pass a law that will be fully funded and making the effectivity of the salary increases retroactive to Jan. 1 of 2016,” he said in a text message. —With a report from Xianne Arcangel/KG, GMA News