Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (Pera) Granted to Government Employees

: Delate 23 effire of the 3. Belarg 25 AUG 14 P2:44 TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) FIRE OF SESSION PINES, First Regular Session RICANTO S SENATE S. No. 1186 Introduced by Senator MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID AN ACT INCREASING THE PERSONNEL ECONOMIC RELIEF ALLOWANCE (PERA) GRANTED TO GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES TO FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P5,000), APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE All government employees are given the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA), which is a subsidy, to help them get by during times of economic hardship and rising costs. The PERA's original purpose was to provide as a safety net against the soaring costs of essential goods brought on by rising oil prices and the unrest in the Middle East. PERA was first approved to government employees in 1991. In 1993, then President Fidel V. Ramos issued Administrative Order No. 53 mandating the grant of additional compensation amounting to Five Hundred Pesos (Php. 500.00) per month. In June 17, 2009, the House of Representatives and the Senate issued Joint Resolution No. 4, mandating the One Thousand Five Hundred Pesos (Php. 1,500.00) additional compensation to the Five Hundred Pesos (Php. 500.00) existing PERA, with a total of Two Thousand Pesos (Php. 2,000.00). Even before it could be felt by government workers, the Two Thousand Peso PERA had long since been exhausted by the soaring cost of energy, transportation, commodities, and services owing to a variety of circumstances.

Sa daming kinakaharap na suliranin ng ating mga manggagawa sa pamahalaan tulad ng matas na halaga ng gasolina, pamasahe, kuryente, serbisyo at mga bilihin. Nararapat lamang na umagapay ang pamahalaan sa mga manggagawa nito. Ang mga benepisyong ibinibigay ng pamahalaan sa kanyang mga kawani ay tunay dapat na tumutugon sa kanilang mga kagyat na pangangailangan upang matumbasan ang kanilang dedikasyon sa paglilingkod sa mga mamamayan. This bill seeks to raise the amount of financial aid provided to our government workers to help cover part of their current-day expenditures for basic goods and services. If passed into law, this will relieve government workers of the burden of caring for their basic needs, allowing them to focus and become even more inspired to serve our countrymen. In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Seriale ay wolfice of the an 25 AUG 14 P2:44 TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session RECEIVED B SENATE S. No. 1186 Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid AN ACT INCREASING THE PERSONNEL ECONOMIC RELIEF ALLOWANCE (PERA) GRANTED TO GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES TO FIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P5,000), APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA). - The Personnel

Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) granted to government employees in the amount 7 of Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000) per month is hereby adjusted to Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000) per month. This allowance shall be subject to an automatic yearly adjustment equivalent to any increase in the annual inflation rate in the country.

SECTION 2. Coverage. - The PERA shall be granted to all government

personnel, whether employed by the national or local governments, appointive or elective, and whether occupying regular, contractual, or casual positions, as provided for by Republic Act No. 6758, or the "Compensation and Position Classification Act of 1989," as amended, as well as military and uniformed personnel, Provided, That government personnel stationed abroad already receiving overseas allowances shall not be entitled to the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days

from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM),

shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.

SECTION 4. Appropriations. - For the first year of the implementation of this

4 Act, funds necessary for the PERA of national and local government units shall be 5 charged against savings, which for this purpose includes unreleased appropriations and other programmed appropriations. Thereafter, the amount necessary shall be provided in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - In the event that any part, section or

provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid by a competent court, the remaining provisions thereby shall remain valid and in full force and effect as if the sections or provisions so annulled or voided had never been incorporated herein.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders,

issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified and/or superseded as case may be by this 15 Act accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier. Approved,