Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Monday rank and file employees of the chamber would receive an additional P5,000 monthly allowance for groceries and transportation—to recognize their hard work and dedication to soften the impact of rising prices of commodities.
Sotto made the announcement during the flag-raising ceremony at the Senate, saying “I would like to announce that we have considered the request of the SENADO union for an increase in the grocery and transportation expense allowance … in the additional amount of P5,000, effective July 1, 2018, rank and file only.”
“Upon consultation and based on the recommendation also of our chairman of the committee on accounts, Senator Ping Lacson, upon studying our financial and budgetary situation, we have decided to give an increase,” Sotto said.
Replying to question, Sotto said the request was made by the union even before the passage of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.
Sotto added the employees union had long been asking for an increase, and that the amount being given was, in fact, lower than what they had sought.