By Brian Campued
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released at least P31.93 billion to fund the pay hike of government employees as of September 10.
In a statement, DBM Sec. Amenah Pangandaman said the fund has been released to 257 departments and agencies—with 58 more agencies under processing.
This comes after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order 64 on August 2, which approves the Salary Standardization Law VI (SSL VI) or the four-tranche pay hike for government employees from 2024 to 2027.
“We are doing everything we can so that we can release the budget to all agencies as soon as possible. Ito po ’yong pinakahihintay ng ating mga kasamahan sa gobyerno,” she stated.
“Of course, we also urge the heads of the departments and agencies to immediately distribute the salary differential since ’yung increase po is retroactive starting January of this year,” Pangandaman added.
According to the DBM, the funds for salary adjustments were distributed to the following agencies:
- Office of the President
- Office of the Vice President
- Congress of the Philippines
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Budget and Management
- Department of Education
- Department of Energy
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources
- Department of Foreign Affairs
- Department of Health
- Department of Information and Communications Technology
- Department of the Interior and Local Government
- Department of Justice
- Department of Labor and Employment
- Department of Migrant Workers
- Department of National Defense
- Department of Public Works and Highways
- Department of Science and Technology
- Department of Social Welfare and Development
- Department of Trade and Industry
- National Economic Development Authority
- Other executive offices
- Civil Service Commission
- Commission on Audit
- Commission on Human Rights
- Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
- State universities and colleges
Meanwhile, the Budget chief ordered the creation of the Salary Standardization Law VI (SSL VI) dashboard—which is now accessible through the DBM’s official website.
The SSL VI dashboard will serve as a tool that will provide real-time data on the budget releases for easier monitoring and effective oversight.
“This dashboard reflects our commitment to transparency and open government. What we want is for the people and our stakeholders to be informed as well as updated in real time about our budget releases,” Pangandaman said. – iro
