BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Did this city government remiss in its duty to implement Republic (RA) Act No. 11466, known as the Salary Standardization Law of 2019, which resulted in non-payment of its employees by about 21 months in back pay? An employee at the City Hall thinks so.
Andrew Murray Durano, administrative assistant at the Office of the City Veterinarian, has asked Mayor Jerry Treñas to comply with the Salary Standardization Law and fully disburse the back pay owed to the employees.
“I believe the Iloilo City Government still owes 21 months of salary increase back pay to its permanent employees. Given your commitment to the welfare and well-being of city government employees, I believe this matter might have been inadvertently overlooked,” said Durano.
Durano also wrote his position paper narrating the alleged failure of the City Hall to enforce the Salary Standardization Law fully.
“This will not only fulfill its legal obligations but also uphold the principles of fairness and equity in public service compensation,” said Durano in his position paper.
When asked for his comment, Treñas said Durano’s concern was forwarded to the City Legal Office for review.
In his position paper, Durano cited Section 11 of RA No. 11466 which provides that the salary schedule shall be implemented in four tranches, with the first tranche starting Jan. 1, 2020.
The second tranche is set for Jan. 1, 2021, while the third and fourth tranches have been scheduled starting Jan. 1, 2022, and Jan. 1, 2023, respectively.
For personnel of the local government units, the implementation period shall not be less than four years depending on their financial capabilities.
Durano, who is among the 31 “most outstanding city government employees” in 2023, said LGUs are prohibited from delaying the initial implementation of the law beyond Jan. 1, 2020.
Durano pointed out the city government has not breached the personnel services (PS) ceiling from 2020 to 2023, as evidenced by its hiring of new employees and infrastructure projects, including a reported surplus of P400 million in 2021.
He said the city government cannot use as an alibi the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic since such only affected the Philippines in the first quarter of 2020.
“It is clear to me that from the outset, the Iloilo City Government had no plan to implement RA 11466 on schedule. On the contrary, they devised a subtle plan to shortchange the employees of the salary increase due them and make it appear to be legal by putting their spin on some provisions of the law,” said Durano./PN
