LOCAL
government officials and employees should equally be able
to enjoy the benefits of the first tranche of salary adjustments
at the same time as their national government counterparts.
The League of Provinces of the Philippines have brought
before Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the appeal of the more
than 1.2 million local government workers for the Salary
Standardization Law 3 to take effect in the LGUs on July
1, 2009 as well.
The Senate and House of Representative Joint Resolution
No. 24, including the subsequent Executive Order No. 811
issued by the President, provides that the salary adjustments
for the LGUs take effect on the 1st of January 2010 yet.
The appeal, contained in LPP General Assembly Resolution
No. 2009-003, points out that the different effectivity
dates creates a disparity between the salaries of national
government and local government employees during the period
between July 1, 2009 and January 1, 2010.
On the other hand, there is no significant distinction between
the national and local government units that will justify
why the salary adjustments of the latter should be implemented
six months later.
The
League likewise requested the President to exempt the LGUs
from the personal services limitation set by the Local Government
Code in order for that government workers in the LGU would
be able to fully enjoy the salary adjustments under the
SSL 3.
League Executive Vice President and Palawan Gov. Joel T.
Reyes pointed out that while the Local Government Code places
a 55% PS cap in the case of 3rd to 6th class LGUs and 45%
for 1st to 3rd class LGUs, Sec. 88 of the 2009 General Appropriations
Act, on the other hand, waived the implementation of these
sections to enable local governments to absorb the cost
of the transfer of national government personnel on account
of devolution. (AJSanchez)
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