Palace defends proposed P400,000 monthly salary for PNoy's successor

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Thursday defended the administration's plan to hike the monthly salary of the next president from P120,000 to P400,000.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. explained in a press briefing that the administration is proposing to increase the salaries of all government employees and not only the president.

"Ang tinitingnan natin ay 'yung pag-aayos ng kompensasyon sa sektor ng public service, 'yung government salary structure. 'Pag pinag-usapan natin 'yan, isang buong iskalera 'yan, mula sa pinakamababa hanggang sa pinakamataas na posisyon," Coloma said.

"At kahit sinong makatuwirang eksperto sa management ang magsasabi na kung gusto natin ang quality service, kinakailangan natin ay quality employees, at makakakuha tayo ng quality employees o quality officials kung mayroon namang makatuwirang kompensasyon," he added.

Coloma also said that according to Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, government personnel with low salary grades would receive less salary increase, while those with high salary levels would get more.

Abad said senior government officials' salaries are still not at par with those in the private sector.

"Sinabi niya na doon sa mga mas mababang antas ay nakakahabol na naman ang suweldo ng pamahalaan. Doon lang sa mga senior levels ay hindi pa. Kaya doon maaaring magkaroon ng mas malaking adjustment," he said.

Coloma said the government will be able to attract "highly talented, qualified and willing people" if public employees will have higher salaries.

There are 33 pay levels in the government. Salary Grade 1 is the lowest and pays about P9,500 monthly while Salary Grade 33 is the highest at P120,000 a month.

Abad said the president's basic monthly salary of P120,000 is only about "30 percent of the market."

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