Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. assured the country’s 1.5 million government employees that the Congress is determined to pass the proposed Salary Standardization Act (SSL) of 2015, after the measure was finally approved by the Senate last January 18.

Belmonte, the chairman emeritus of the National Unity Party (NUP), said the House of Representatives is looking forward to the start of the bicameral conference committee meetings on January 27 for  SSL 2015, which aims to bring compensation in the government service to at least 70 percent of the private sector rate.  

"The SSL 2015 is something the senators and we, know we have to pass. In the interest of employees, we are determined that the bill passes both houses," the Speaker said.

The House approved on third and final reading its version of the SSL  last December 9,  while the Senate version, was passed last week. The proposed salary standardization program adjusts the compensation and position classification system of civilian government workers and the base pay schedule of military and uniformed personnel in the government to be implemented in four tranches, starting Jan. 1, 2016.

In the Senate version, the proposal also covers retirees from the Armed Forces, the National Police and other uniformed personnel.  The budget for retirees, however,  has not been included in the P57.9 billion appropriation for the original SSL 2015 bill endorsed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).  

"Remember that the basic SSL 2015 is included in the General Appropriations Act of  2016. If the Senate will add to it, that will be another law," Belmonte said.

SSL 2015 will be implemented through a combination of a salary increase, a 14th month pay, and an enhanced performance-based bonus system.