Senator Jinggoy Estrada has proposed to double the amount of subsidy being given to government personnel to help them cope with the rising cost of living.
“Sa pagtaas ng inflation rate o ang pagtaas ng presyo ng ilang pangkaraniwang serbisyo’t produktong binibili ng mga konsyumer, hindi na makabuluhan ang halaga ng Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) na natatanggap ng mga manggagawa sa gobyerno,” said Estrada, chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development.
Senate Bill No. 1027 filed by Estrada proposed an additional monthly subsidy amounting to P2,000 aside from the current amount being received by workers in the government considering the present economic crisis being experienced now following the setback brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under SB 1027, uniformed and civilian government personnel will receive a total of P4,000 monthly Augmented Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (APERA). The proposal introduces an additional P2,000 augmentation to the current Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) being received monthly by public servants.
Government officials and personnel assigned overseas are not bound by the said proposed additional benefit.
It was in the year 1990 when PERA was first given to government personnel as the price of basic goods soared due to the effects of the First Gulf War. From P500 in 1990, PERA was increased to P2,000 monthly in 2009.
“Sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin at gasolina, ang P2,000 Personnel Economic Relief Allowance, ay tiyak na hindi sapat upang tulungan silang makayanan ang mga problemang pinansyal,” the senator added. -Politiko News