What are your thoughts on the signing of the GOCC Act, which standardizes the salaries of executives of GOCCs and GFIs?

TEXT VIEWS: What are your thoughts on the signing of the GOCC Act, which standardizes the salaries of executives of GOCCs and GFIs?

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: Anything that will tame the abuses of the past will always be a good thing. I only hope the GOCC Act will serve its intended purpose.  

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: Sooner or later, somebody will find a way to circumvent the law, and still enrich himself in office in spite of it. Let’s see.  

A welcome development

Raymar Gurrea, Bacolod City: I find the signing of the GOCC Act as just and fair. This is a moment I have been waiting for  the standardization of the salaries of their executives.  

Deo Durante, Camarines Sur: This is a welcome development. GOCCs’ previous executives have had long been enjoyed the high salaries and perks, without even being bothered to look down and check if ordinary citizens are still alive or have had something for the meal, as if these government entities served as milking cows for a long time by these people, who have no hearts and soul. I am optimistic that the President will do his best that such irregularities and will be seen no more under his administration.  

Danilo Rogayan Jr., Zambales: This is indeed a laudable move of the Aquino administration. May this measure be sternly implemented and not stay as mere legislation. I also hope that this new law will truly serve its purpose and not just be ningas cogon.

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: Indeed, this is a welcome development and one of the better pieces of legislation passed by Congress of the present administration.  

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: It’s a step in the right direction to curb the wanton wastage of public funds, as was seemingly the hallmark of the previous administration. It is said to be highly responsible for the loss of P1.3 trillion to massive corruption in only five years. Of course, the usual crux of the matter will be implementation as the culture of corruption is deeply ingrained in the system of the governing entities and the governed for several decades. Only time will tell if the Aquino administration will succeed in making a significant improvement in governance.  

There’s a downside to this

Ferdinand Rafer, Cavite: The upside is that the government can save on salaries and perks; the downside is that we might have a lousy financial manager managing our pension funds.  

Make it retroactive

Elpidio Que, Vigan: This is a most welcome act. But this act should state that past GOCC execs that enriched themselves with the salaries and perks they themselves moved and approved, should be strapped to electric chairs.  

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: Let’s make the GOCC Act retroactive to the time when Winston Garcia was appointed head of SSS, and order him to return all the excess salaries he got.  

Ed Gulmatico, Abu Dhabi: This is a good initiative, a timely move on the part of P-Noy’s government and a good start after a year of unfulfilled promises of a corrupt-free bureaucracy and clean governance. This standardization will at least level the playing field among all government officials, executives and employees. The Filipino people hope, too, that lifestyle checks will be re-conducted on past and present executives of GOCCs and GFIs, along with their families. And if the situation points to abuses (a.k.a. stealing of people’s money), garnishment proceedings, confiscation of illegal wealth, and conviction should be meted out on these “highly privileged few” executives of GOCCs and GFIs. It might be too late, but still better late than never. If that happens, Mr. President, you are and will be the best President of our God-forsaken country.  

Moderate greed in public service

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: Fat salaries and benefits of GOCC and GFI executives are lavishly inappropriate. The GOCC Act will put a stop on the wanton abuse of such privileges.  

Adrian Catral, Quezon City: The signing of the GOCC Act would mean equal opportunities and chances for all. Rxcessive bonuses and fringe benefits of these executives would finally be curtailed.

Louella Brown, Baguio City: The signing of the GOCC Act will hopefully minimize corruption among executives of GOCCs and GFIs.  

Jin Veneracion, Naga City: This is a positive step in minimizing, if not totally eliminating, greed in public service. The practice is too scandalous. This should have even been done since the inception of GOCCs and GFIs. The thought of not attracting highly-paid private sector executives is pure hogwash. There are still Filipinos who are patriotic enough to be in public service. Only they should temper their greed by being contented with regular salaries, allowances and perks.  

Ignacio Anacta, Metro Manila: The stardardization of the salaries of GOCC and GFI executives is a good measure. It may help minimize the greed of those who are in DBP, GSIS, Neda, etc., whose salaries and perks are much higher than that of our own President. These appointed executives feel that their appointment is a shortcut to gaining riches and power, receiving perks without an iota of delicadeza. As a nation, however, we have one major flaw. We cannot effectively implement the provisions of acts or bills signed into law. I wish and hope that P-Noy and his team will make a difference.  

Salaries are not the entire problem

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: These executives thrive not on salaries, but on under-the-table deals and unreasonably fat allowances. Don’t be naive and say “I didn’t know that.”  

The greed will go on unabated

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: Those that run these alphabet soup kingdoms will still manage to cook up ways so poor Juan ends up always begging at the soup line.  Rene Poder, Manila

The measure is good, as it effectively neutralizes the greed of all concerned. But the not-so-bright sycophants to the powers-that-be are the luckiest, posing as multi-consultants with handsome honoraria.  

It should benefit the economy

Antonio Bello, Manila: This reminds us of the causes of the recent global financial meltdown caused by executives in America, whose greed resulted in the collapse of financial institutions, affecting economies worldwide. I hope that this measure to standardize the salaries of these executives of GOCCs and GFIs will now put these entities in healthier financial condition, to make them run efficiently and help contribute to the economic thrust of the government.  

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: The standardization of the salaries of executives of GOCCs and GFIs would mean savings of millions of pesos for the government. It should benefit the government coffers.  

Milking cows no more

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: GOCCs and GFIs will cease to be a favorite milking cow, where politicians dump incompetent cronies to pay political debts, causing financial hemorrhage.  

Demoralization in the ranks

Felix Ramento, USA: Greed was the standard practice among GOCCs prior to this law. However, the GOCC Act will not resolve the atmosphere of demoralization in the government service, because the majority of them are still stuck in yet another Salary Standardization Law.  

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: They should pay attention to the salaries of rank-and-file employees. Malalaki na ang suweldo ng mga executives na iyan.  

Long delayed

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: I think the signing of the GOCC Act is long delayed. Had it been made earlier, salaries of executives would have already been standardized.  

Dr. Jaingue, Quezon City: The standardization of salaries of GOCC and GFI executives through the signing of the GOCC Act is a very commendable though long overdue measure. For many years, these executives enjoyed extraordinary perks and benefits of their own doing and caprice with blatant impunity.  

Should be more specific

Joel Caluag, Bulacan: I regret the years and money the government lost to the executives of these GOCCs and GFIs. They really feasted. The GOCC Act should have covered age.  

Abolish them altogether

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: The government was never good at managing business. It should rid itself of GOCCs and GFIs, most of which are not making money, but hemorrhaging billions annually. Standardizing salaries won’t help. Executives will just find other means to milk the cow.  

Execs will move to private sector

Carmela Ramento, Cagayan de Oro City: Because of variances in workload, some executives of GOCCs may not approve of the idea. Can’t do anything there. Better yet, they ought to find themselves another job.  

Erwin Espinoza, Pangasinan: Nothing to brag about. It might discourage technocrats from accept GOCC executive positions because of low pay. They better stick to private practice.  

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: It would mean a good saving for government coffers, but I hope it won’t be diverted to corruption. However, expect some affected executives to transfer to the private sector.  

Safety nets must be put in place

Elmo Cruz, Manila: GOCC Act will make the salaries and perks of executives of GOCCs and GFIs equitable with other government executives, and the earnings of the corporations will augment the treasury fund. The Commission on Audit and other examination and investigation agencies should keep their eyes closer on these corporations, as its executives may dip their fingers into anomalous transactions to replace the loss in their huge benefits.  

Ishmael Calata, Parañaque City: While this GOCC Act is truly a most welcome measure, let us now be on the watch that no one will go around it and devise other innovative ways of still enjoying huge amounts of money stashed in their pockets. They devised the huge salaries and their perks, and these were there in transparent fashion for all to see, showing that these were earned legally, although morally questionable. What may supplant what they lost on account of the GOCC Act could still be regained via other covert means, which is equally evil and dangerous to our economic well-being. The act should embody a safety net on this regard.  

Let’s remain vigilant

Leonard Kristian Gelacio, Cauayan City: It’s good to hear P-Noy assure us that we are heading towards the tuwid na daan. However, under the GOCC Act, there is no cutting down of the executives’ salaries. Let’s be watchful.  

Edwin Chinel Monares, Rizal: It’s a nice public relations move. Now we are expecting exemptions coming from the Office of the President and irrational justification and rationalization why some, if not all, GOCCs and GFIs will be given exemptions. We must create an independent watchdog to oversee the implementation of the law.  

Confused

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: Reading the June 16, 2011 frontpage of Phil. STAR, I am confused and cannot understand where we are going: each Senator to get P30 million additional pork barrel, each of the 285 members of the House to get P5 to P10 million for their district, and 14 governors to get P20 million each. Summing all of these will easily involve billions of pesos. What made me feel desperate and hopeless is the fact that all this money will be taken from the Road Users’ Tax that you and I paid for a specific purpose, only to be divided among them. I cannot understand why the government is willing to waste all that money, but cannot afford a little cut on VAT, adjust the teachers’ salaries, build classrooms and increase SSS/GSIS retirement pension, the dividends of which benefit the skyrocketed salaries and other benefits of GOCCs.  

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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