Marcos Announces Pay Raise for Government Workers
MARCOS – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced salary increase for government employees.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. delivered his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22, at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City. The speech began at 4:06 p.m. and lasted nearly an hour and a half.
During the SONA, Marcos covered topics such as inflation, tensions in the West Philippine Sea, and illegal POGO operations.
In the agriculture sector, Bongbong Marcos mentioned using appropriate vaccines to prevent Swine Flu in pigs, making Kadiwa Centers permanent with affordable products, distributing 9,300 pieces of machinery to farmers this year, and supporting water systems and irrigation dam projects to ensure water security.
For the health sector, he announced additional medical benefits, especially for breast cancer, doubling PhilHealth benefits, adding over 50 generic medicines, and introducing the DOH Mental Health Plan and PhilHealth mental health package.
In tourism, the introduction of PH e-visa and programs for experiential tourism were highlighted. In the education sector, the continuation of school-based feeding programs and the “Walang Gutom 2027” initiative, upskilling teachers in IT and creative sectors, and scholarship grants for research and development were discussed. Climate change and disaster preparedness were addressed in the environmental sector.
Marcos also talked about cybersecurity plans, solutions for power outages, measures to improve and expand WiFi connectivity in the country, and the Cebu-Negros-Panay Backbone Project in the power sector.
He discussed improvements in expressways and railway systems and the development of more comprehensive programs in the infrastructure sector. For OFWs, the establishment of an OFW Lounge at NAIA and a Seafarer’s Hub in Manila, as well as crisis response for Filipinos returning from Taiwan and New Zealand, were covered.
Marcos highlighted the implementation of RA 12009 (the New Government Procurement Act) and the reduction in crime rates in the area of peace and order. He announced the ban on all POGOs and reiterated that the West Philippine Sea belongs to the Philippines.
Additionally, Marcos declared that government employees would get another salary increase. Marcos announced in his 2024 State of the Nation Address that government workers will also get medical allowance.
“Para naman sa ating mga kawani sa gobyerno, meron silang maaasahang medical allowance bilang karagdagang benepisyo sa susunod na taon,” PBBM said.
“At hindi lamang yon, meron ding napipintong umento sa suweldo na makukuha nila sa apat na tranche,” he explained.
According to Marcos, money has been set aside for that reason as of this year.
Amenah Pangandaman, the budget secretary, had earlier voiced hope that Marcos Jr. would propose raising government employee salaries.
READ ALSO: SONA 2024 – The Highlights and Issues President Marcos Discussed