By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson assured yesterday that the budget for salary increase for workers of the provincial government is included in the 2022 Provincial Budget.

“Whatever is due to the government employees, we will give it,” Lacson said.

Lacson has already submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan the P5.7 billion provincial budget proposal for next year.

He also assured that the employees’ bonuses will also be given as it is due to them. However, he said the issue had not yet been discussed.

Progressive Alliance of Capitol Employees President Renelo Lastierre said the funds intended for the salary increase had already been programmed and they were already assured that it is included in next year’s budget.

“The provincial government has already started implementing the salary increase of employees based on the Salary Standardization Law,” he said.

All capitol employees, both regular and casual, are covered by the law because it has been a practice by the provincial government to give the same benefits to the employees and that the only difference is the security of tenure.

The first tranche of the salary increase was already released to the employees effective January this year./DGB, WDJ