House workers get P7,500 assistance pay

They may not be receiving any amelioration pay this year but employees of the House of Representatives still have something to cheer about in the form of a "legislative assistance fund."

Speaker Manuel Villar said yesterday House employees will receive their P7,500 assistance fund as well as the P3,000 to P5,000 productivity pay by next month.

"I would like to assure you that it has always been my intention to give you the best," the Speaker told employees during the flag ceremony at the Batasan complex in Quezon City. "When I heard some of your benefits would be slashed, I felt really bad."

President Estrada had earlier decided to scrap the granting of the amelioration pay, which state workers received during the previous administration.

Villar also assured workers of continued employment, saying there would be no "dramatic changes" during his term.

He explained that congressional employees will continue to receive their monthly compensation directly from the Speaker's Office, and not from individual congressmen as earlier proposed.

"While it may be a good idea, I have no intention of changing the system or experimenting with reorganization in my term," Villar said.

He pointed out that there is limited time to pursue changes, considering he has only one year left as House speaker.

Villar reiterated that he will certainly resign as speaker by 2001 as he intends to run for the Senate.

"But don't worry, between now and that time, I will still be your speaker," he told House employees.

The assurance was made following reports that employees were complaining about the speaker's "weak leadership" and lack of control over House affairs.

Disgruntled employees earlier revealed that some finance executives in the House had been misappropriating public funds and amassing wealth by cornering huge commissions from negotiated contracts.

The congressional staff likewise demanded the speaker to release the representation and transportation allowance (RATA) for House chiefs of staff worth P23,385, similar to the amount received regularly by their counterparts at the House Secretariat.

During yesterday's ceremony, Villar told workers that while he was prepared to face criticism, he still felt a little sad.

"Speakers come and go, and you develop your own impressions about them," he said. "You don't have to be impressed. You don't have to like me that much but I certainly would not want you to dislike me."

Meanwhile, as part of his Valentine's Day offering, the speaker said the mass housing fund for congressional workers is now available.

The guidelines and details of the housing program are being finalized by a special committee, Villar said in statement.

"We realize the need to provide decent and affordable homes to Filipinos, and we in the House will do our share in assisting the national government in curbing the housing backlog," he said.

Some 3,000 House employees are expected to benefit from the comprehensive housing program.