[ Manila Bulletin Online ] March 21,2008
By BEN R. ROSARIO
Concerned over reports that a big number of government employees still cannot afford decent housing for their families, two veteran administration lawmakers batted for the distribution of a P500 monthly housing allowance for low-salary public sector workers, particularly teachers, policemen, and soldiers.
In filing House Bill 3603, Reps. Amado Bagatsing and Luis R. Villafuerte pointed out that although the government has placed its housing program as a top accomplishment target, majority of its 1.5 million employees remain homeless or living in unsafe housing units.
Bagatsing and Villafuerte stressed that with government workers receiving an average of just P3,000 as take-home pay, the amount could only answer for basic needs such as food, education, and transportation.
"Considering that only a few can afford to have their own house and lot, this bill seeks to complement government’s housing program by granting them housing allowance," the two solons said.
Under HB 3603, employees who will benefit from the P500 monthly allowance are those receiving salaries equivalent to Salary Grade 25, regardless of their employment status.
However, consultants or those whose employment do not signify an employer- employee relationship are not entitled to the benefit.
Public school teachers of the Department of Education, Philippine National Police personnel up to the rank of superintendent, and Armed Forces personnel with a rank of lieutenant colonel or lower are covered.
"The government is committed to help alleviate the plight of the people including government employees who are generally low-salaried and who receive inadequate annual benefits compared to their counterparts in the private sector," Bagatsing said.
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