A neophyte lawmaker on Monday called for salary increases for government professionals including teachers and health service practitioners as an “all-year-round Christmas gift for dedicated public servants.”
“Our public servants serve as the backbone of the State’s services for the people and deserve all the recognition for their invaluable contributions. They spend a big chunk of their lives serving other people. The least we could do to give back to them with increase in their salaries to foster a more efficient and motivated workforce,” said House deputy majority leader and Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas .
Vargas filed multiple bills on wage increase for government employees.
Among his proposed laws are measures seeking salary increases for government professionals, particularly House Bill 1680 or Government Medical Doctors Salary Upgrading Act, HB 3776 or Salary Increase for Public Dentists Act, HB 4070 Upgrading the Salary of Teachers Act and 5806 Nurse Appreciation Through Raised Salaries Act.
These legislations, he said, serve as continuity of those championed by the former QC District V Rep. Alfred Vargas, who is the legislator’s older brother. Maricel V. Cruz
As these bills are still pending with the House Committee on Appropriations.
“The sooner these bills will move forward, the sooner we can grant our professionals the gratitude for their dedication to service for the people, all year round. More than providing them higher wages, it’s making sure they are paid competitively among fellow professionals internationally,” Vargas said.
Teachers, doctors and nurses in the Philippines remain among the lowest-paid compared to their professional counterparts in many parts of South East Asia including Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, Vargas noted.