Personnel Economic Relief Allowance Increase

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL -3 P3:57 SENATE p.. S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT INCREASING THE PERSONNEL ECONOMIC RELIEF ALLOWANCE GRANTED TO GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES TO FOUR THOUSAND PESOS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE The Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) was granted in 1990 to all government employees to help them tide over the economic difficulties brought about by the Gulf War. In 1993, through Administrative Order No. 53, additional compensation amounting to Five hundred pesos (P500.00) was granted to public school teachers, uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the rest of the government personnel. In 2009, through Joint Resolution Number 4, additional compensation amounting to One thousand five hundred pesos (P1,500.00) and the Five hundred pesos (P500.00) PERA combined and collectively called PERA, now amounting to Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00). With the continued rise of the prices of commodities and gasoline, the Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) is definitely not enough to augment the earnings of government personnel.

This bill, therefore, seeks to increase the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance from P2,000.00 to P4,000.00 as a form of economic relief for all government personnel. In view of the foregoing circumstances, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. ragstated JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL -3 P3:57 SENATE p. S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT INCREASING THE PERSONNEL ECONOMIC RELIEF ALLOWANCE GRANTED TO GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES TO FOUR THOUSAND PESOS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Augmentation of the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance. - The

Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) granted to government employees is hereby increased from the present Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) per month to Four thousand pesos (P4,000.00) per month. The PERA shall henceforth be referred to as the Augmented Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (APERA).

Sec. 2. Coverage. - The APERA shall be granted to civilian government

7 personnel whether employed by the national or local governments, appointive or elective, and whether occupying regular, contractual, or casual positions, whose positions are covered by Republic Act 6758, otherwise known as 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 APERA.

Sec. 3. Appropriations. - For the first year of the implementation of this Act,

funds necessary for the APERA of National Government Agencies shall be charged against savings, which for this purpose includes unreleased appropriations and other

1 programmed appropriations. Thereafter, the amount necessary shall be provided in 2 the annual General Appropriations. For Local Government Units, the APERA shall be charged against their respective local funds. Any deficiency shall be charged against the unexpended balances of the Internal Revenue Allotments, which are hereby authorized to be realigned for the purpose. Thereafter, the amount necessary shall be provided in the respective local budgets. For Government-Owned and/or -Controlled Corporations, the APERA shall be charged against their respective corporate funds.

Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Budget

and Management shall issue the implementing rules and regulations within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act.

Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and resolutions, or

parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,