SBMA workers protest wage hike delay

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines – Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) employees wore black armbands and shirts yesterday to protest the delay in the implementation of their salary increase.

Ted Peñaflor II, president of the SBMA Employees Association, said they are appealing to President Aquino to look into the plight of SBMA workers.

Employees with salary grade 18 receive P19,000 a month, which is far below the P31,000 per month that workers from other agencies receive under the Bases Conversion Development Authority  rate, Peñaflor said.

He said their protest action did not mean that they were against SBMA chairman Roberto Garcia, but they want to help him get Aquino’s attention to sign the request for the salary increase.

Garcia admitted during yesterday’s flag-raising ceremony that the request for the salary increase of SBMA employees is on the President’s table.

He said a meeting between him and the President had been set and postponed six times.

Garcia lauded the workers for holding a peaceful protest.