Monday, January 30, 2023
manilastandard.net
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Others
    • Pets
    • Pop.Life
      • Newsmakers
      • Hangouts
      • A-Pop
      • Post Its
      • Performances
      • Malls & Bazaars
      • Hobbies & Collections
    • Technology
      • Gadgets
      • Computers
      • Business
      • Tech Plus
    • MS ON THE ROAD
      • Sedan
      • SUV
      • Truck
      • Bike
      • Accessories
      • Motoring Plus
      • Commuter’s Corner
    • Home & Design
      • Residential
      • Commercial
      • Construction
      • Interior
    • Spotlight
    • Gallery
      • Photos
      • Videos
    • Events
      • Seminars
      • Exhibits
      • Community
    • Biyahero
      • Travel Features
      • Travel Reels
      • Travel Logs
  • Advertise with Us
No Result
View All Result
manilastandard.net
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Columns Citizen Barok by Louis Barok Biraogo

PBBM should probe excessive salaries, allowances of Diokno, BSP officials

Louis "Barok" BiraogobyLouis "Barok" Biraogo
August 5, 2022, 12:25 am
in Citizen Barok by Louis Barok Biraogo, Columns, Opinion
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Email

“Under the salary standardization system, compensation of a government official or employee is pegged to the salary grade corresponding to his position in the civil service”

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did right when he vetoed the congressional bill which would have granted excessive pay and gargantuan allowances to lawyers of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel.

If that bill became a law, OGCC lawyers would have had a compensation scheme far more lucrative than that of lawyers with higher ranks in other government agencies.

As it is, OGCC lawyers are allowed to draw public funds, in addition to the large pay and benefits they are already receiving, each time they appear in trials and hearings. Many of them protract the litigation of cases to draw more allowances.

Speaking of inequity, last month, the Commission on Audit released its 2021 Report on Salaries and Allowances. It indicates how much top government officials got paid in salaries and allowances for that year.

Former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno was the highest paid official for 2021. Diokno received a total of P41.811-million in salaries and allowances.

ADVERTISEMENT

His pay for 2021 was more than double the P19.791-million he received the previous year. He was also the highest paid official in 2020.

The COA report covers 999 government agencies and corporations and their subsidiaries and instrumentalities. It also covers secretaries, undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and other government officials of equivalent rank.

Many other officials of the BSP were also in the list of the best-compensated officials for 2021, namely, BSP board members Victor Bruce Tolentino (P23.292-million); Felipe Medalla (P21.83-million); Antonio Abacan (P21.709-million); Peter Favila (P21.673-million); and Anita Linda Aquino (P21.426-million).

Also in the list are BSP deputy governors Chuchi Fonacier (P20.243-million); Maria Almasara Amador (P20.175-million) and Francisco Dakila Jr. (P17.831-million), as well as BSP senior assistant governors Maria Ramona Gertrudes Santiago (P17.381-million) and Elmore Capule (P7.249-million).

Diokno’s annual salaries and allowances are far bigger than the official salary of the President of the Philippines!

This iniquitous, lopsided compensation system for top BSP officials should be explained by the Department of Finance and the Department of Budget and Management. The DOF explanation may not be forthcoming because Diokno is the new Finance Secretary.

Apparently, the compensation paid to government officials and employees in previous administrations depended on political patronage.

Top officials with connections to the powers that be got gigantic salaries and allowances. Those with no connections ended up with morsels.

That inequitable system demoralized many middle-level and lower-ranking officials, and led to corruption and incompetence in the bureaucracy.

In an attempt to solve the problem, the national government set into place a law mandating the standardization of the salaries of all government officials and employees.

Under the salary standardization system, compensation of a government official or employee is pegged to the salary grade corresponding to his position in the civil service. That way, officials and employees belonging to the same salary grade received the same compensation.

Unfortunately, although salaries remained pegged to a government official’s or employee’s salary grade, the allowances received by top officials allowed them to receive practically limitless compensation through limitless allowances.

That arrangement is anomalous because an allowance is an augmentation of one’s salary, and should not be bigger than the salary it is supposed to augment in the first place.

People are asking — what is so extraordinary about the jobs of Diokno and his top officials at the BSP that entitles them to their exorbitant compensation?

The Philippines is facing serious economic problems created by the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020. The war in Ukraine has forced the price of petroleum and prime commodities in the country to skyrocket. Many Filipino families today can hardly make both ends meet.

Despite the foregoing economic concerns, Diokno and his people were paid unconscionably high salaries and allowances.

Something is obviously wrong with that arrangement.

President Bongbong Marcos should investigate this shocking inequity, most especially because Diokno is now his Secretary of Finance.

Just how much will Diokno’s compensation be as Secretary of Finance? From past indications, it will probably be far more than the large amounts he already received in 2020 and 2021.

In return for the unconscionable compensation paid to Diokno as BSP governor, what did the Filipino people get?

Look at Diokno’s new P1000 polymer bank note. The three World War II Filipino heroes honored in the old P1000 paper bill are no longer in Diokno’s plastic version. Diokno’s decision to remove them is an insult to their heroism.

His P1000 bill is also very impractical to use because it doesn’t fit conventional wallets, and the slightest crumple to it may make it worthless.

The new P1000 bill is one of Diokno’s prominent “accomplishments” as BSP chief, for which he became the highest paid government official for 2020 and 2021.

President Marcos should review the compensation scheme currently enjoyed by the BSP and its related agencies, the DOF included.

Tags: Louis "Barok" BiraogoOffice of the Government Corporate CounselOGCCPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
ADVERTISEMENT
Louis "Barok" Biraogo

Louis "Barok" Biraogo

Related Posts

Joint maritime patrols in WPS

byManila Standard
January 30, 2023, 12:15 am
0
8
Joint maritime patrols in WPS

If the United States and the Philippines are now talking about joint maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea, what’s...

Read more

Recovering

byLito Banayo
January 30, 2023, 12:10 am
0
8
A crisis president

"Though it is a congressional initiative, and the presidential hand is yet to be seen, this is very welcome news"...

Read more

Only bad drivers don’t like NCAP

byOrlando Oxales
January 30, 2023, 12:05 am
0
8
Denying Villafuerte justice

"If they don’t want to suffer the consequences of their actions then obey the traffic rules, that’s it" The traffic...

Read more

‘Bulacan airport will boost tourism industry’

byMelandrew Velasco
January 30, 2023, 12:00 am
0
8
RSA: Mr. Malasakit, the environmentalist

"SMC has always been at the forefront in initiating projects without cost to the government to help grow the economy"...

Read more

More opportunities for Pinoy boxers

byManila Standard
January 28, 2023, 12:20 am
0
8
More opportunities for Pinoy boxers

Games and Amusement Board chairman Richard Clarin recently visited Thailand to watch Filipino boxers fight for regional titles. It provided...

Read more

Why POGOs must be banned

byEmil Jurado
January 28, 2023, 12:15 am
0
8
A tribute to Bob Garon

"It would do well for BBM to get advice from veteran AFP generals, since they have been there and done...

Read more

Print Edition

View More

Recent Posts

  • ‘Drought’ has New Yorkers asking: ‘Where’s the snow?’
  • Russian shelling of Kherson leaves at least three dead
  • Israel punishes attacker’s family as violence rages
  • Gandhi’s killer a hero to India’s diehard Hindu nationalists
  • Casualties as strikes hit convoy carrying arms into Syria: war monitor
  • Memphis police beating video sparks Rodney King comparisons
  • IMF announces visit to crisis-hit Pakistan
  • Sneakers for Makati : AB4.0

Advertisement

Latest News

Memphis police beating video sparks Rodney King comparisons

byAFP
January 30, 2023, 7:00 am
0
8
Memphis police beating video sparks Rodney King comparisons

By Huw Griffith Three decades ago, a bystander's grainy video of US police officers savagely beating a motorist eventually led...

Read more

IMF announces visit to crisis-hit Pakistan

byAFP
January 30, 2023, 6:00 am
0
8
IMF announces visit to crisis-hit Pakistan

By Ashraf Khan The IMF will send a team to Pakistan next week to discuss reviving a desperately needed bailout...

Read more

Sneakers for Makati : AB4.0

byManila Standard
January 30, 2023, 1:40 am
0
288
Sneakers for Makati : AB4.0

Read more

Exotic pets

byDanny Pata
January 30, 2023, 1:39 am
0
8
LPG to cost P9.50/k more

Animal lovers and enthusiasts display their pets at an exotic pet show on Sunday at the SMX convention center in...

Read more

LPG to cost P9.50/k more

byAlena Mae S. Flores
January 30, 2023, 1:30 am
0
8
LPG to cost P9.50/k more

Leads projected oil price increases, gas at P1.40/l, diesel at P1/l Cooking gas or liquefied petroleum gas prices will likely...

Read more

Advertisement

ADVERTISEMENT
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

ABOUT US

Manila Standard

Manila Standard website (manilastandard.net), launched in August 2002, extends the newspaper’s reach beyond its traditional readers and makes its brand of Philippine news and opinion available to a much wider and geographically diverse readership here and overseas.

Digital Edition

In tone and content, the online edition mirrors the editorial thrust of the newspaper. While hewing to the traditional precepts of fairness and objectivity, MS believes the news of the day need not be staid, overly long or dry. Stories are succinct, readable and written in a lively style that has become a hallmark of the newspaper.

Download – Today’s Paper

Search

No Result
View All Result

6th Floor Universal Re Bldg., 106 Paseo De Roxas cor. Perea Street, Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City Philippines

Trunklines: 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • National
    • World News
    • Pinoy Abroad
    • Features
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Columns
    • Soundbytes
  • LGUs
    • NCR
    • Luzon
    • Visayas
    • Mindanao
  • Business
    • Corporate
    • Economy & Trade
    • Stocks
    • Money
    • Agri & Mining
    • Power & Tech
    • IT & Telecom
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Fightsports
    • Active
    • Sports Plus
    • One Championship
    • Columns
  • Entertainment
    • TV & Movies
    • Celebrity Profiles
    • Music & Concerts
    • Digital Media
    • Columns
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Culture & Media
    • Fashion
    • Health and Home
    • Leisure
    • Shopping
    • Columns
  • Pop.Life
    • Newsmakers
    • Hangouts
    • A-Pop
    • Post Its
    • Performances
    • Malls & Bazaars
    • Hobbies & Collections
  • Technology
    • Gadgets
    • Computers
    • Business
    • Tech Plus
  • MS ON THE ROAD
    • Sedan
    • SUV
    • Truck
    • Bike
    • Accessories
    • Motoring Plus
    • Commuter’s Corner
  • Home & Design
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Interior
  • Spotlight
  • Gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Events
    • Seminars
    • Exhibits
    • Community
  • Biyahero
    • Travel Features
    • Travel Reels
    • Travel Logs
  • Pets
  • Advertise with Us

© 2021 Manila Standard - Designed and Developed by Neitiviti Studios.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Install Manila Standard Web App

Install App