By Rachel Magday

 

NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Timothy Joseph E. Cayton is pushing for a measure that would raise the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) of government employees to P9,000 a month from the current P2,000.

House Bill No. 9331 seeks to provide additional financial relief to public sector workers amid the continued increase in the prices of fuel, food and other basic commodities.

The proposed increase could benefit an estimated two million civilian government workers nationwide, including personnel in national government agencies and local government units.

Based on recent government manpower estimates, national government agencies account for roughly 1.3 million employees, while LGUs employ about 500,000 to 600,000 workers.

Cayton said the proposed adjustment is intended to help government employees cope with the rising cost of living and the weakening purchasing power of fixed incomes.

PERA is a monthly allowance granted to government personnel to supplement their income and help cushion the impact of economic pressures.