House passes latest SSL bill on third reading
THE House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a bill covering the fifth phase of government employee salary increases.
With 187 affirmative votes, five negative and zero abstentions, the chamber passed House Bill 5712 or the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) V.
If the bill is signed into law, public-sector employees at Salary Grade (SG) 1 will receive a P2,000 increase overall or P500 each year starting from 2020 until 2023. SG 1 employees who currently receive P11,000 will receive P13,000 by 2023.
The measure covers all civilian personnel in the Executive, Legislative, Judicial Branches, Constitutional Commissions and other Constitutional Offices, and government-owned and controlled corporations.
Representative Stella Luz A. Quimbo of the second district of Marikina said that the bill “promotes efficiency in the delivery of government services” adding that “increases in wages predict increases in labor productivity.”
President Rodrigo R. Duterte has issued a certificate of urgency on the legislation.
Passing a new Salary Standardization Law to increase the wages of government employees was one of the priority bills outlined during Mr. Duterte’s 2019 State of the Nation Address (SONA).
On Monday, the Senate approved its version of the measure on third and final reading. The urgency certification allowed senators to do away with the three-day rule between readings. — Genshen L. Espedido
