TWO SENATE panels have approved a measure giving government employees their fifth round of salary increases.

The Senate finance and civil service committees endorsed a report on salary standardization.

Senator Ramon B. Revilla, Jr. on Tuesday sponsored the measure for plenary deliberation, which was also supported by Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto.

Under the bill, the salary adjustment will be given in four tranches starting in January next year. It will cover civilian government personnel in the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches.

Employees under constitutional commissions, government-owned or -controlled corporations and local government units will also be covered.

It excludes military and uniformed personnel and individuals whose services are engaged through job orders and contracts of service, among other things.

Mr. Recto said in his sponsorship speech the measure would cost P310 billion for four years.

The measure was among the priority bills pushed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte during his fourth State of the Nation Address in July. — Charmaine A. Tadalan