Solons want separation pay for retiring House employees

MANILA, Philippines - Three legislators want retiring House of Representatives employees to receive benefits or separation gratuity pay.

Under House Resolution 814, Reps. Andres Salvacion Jr. of  Leyte, Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro and Mariano Piamonte of A-TEACHER partylist group seek to grant separation pay to retiring House employees for dedicating their productive years of services to the government.

"A House employee who has spent at least 10 years of his productive life in the House of Representatives could receive only a fraction of his salary as pension or lump sum, if any, upon his retirement," said Salvacion, chairperson of House Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation.

Under the resolution, a House employee who shall retire from the service and has rendered at least 10 but less than 15 accumulated years of service will get one month salary for every year of service.

A House employee who has rendered at least 15 but less than 20 accumulated years of service and who wishes to retire shall be awarded monetary equivalent of one and a half month salary for every year of service.

Those who have rendered at least 20 but less than 25 accumulated years of service shall be awarded monetary equivalent of two month salary for every year of service.

A retiree who has served the institution for 25 but less than 30 years shall be awarded the monetary equivalent of two and a half month salary for every year of service.

A House employee who has served the institution for 30 years shall be awarded monetary equivalent of three month salary for every year of service.

All  House employees regardless of employment status are covered by the measure. The monetary equivalent that will be awarded to the HOuse of Representatives retiree shall be based on his highest salary received.