QUEZON City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas yesterday urged the leadership of the House of Representatives to include in the list of priority measures the bills seeking salary increases for government professionals such as teachers and health service practitioners as Christmas gift for their dedication to public service.
“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 (is to give them an) increase in their salaries to foster a more efficient and motivated workforce,” Vargas said in a statement.
The lawmaker has filed several bills seeking wage increases for government employees.
Among his pet bills are House Bill No. 1680, or the proposed Government Medical Doctors Salary Upgrading Act; HB No. 3776, or the Salary Increase for Public Dentists Act; HB No. 4070, or Upgrading the Salary of Teachers Act; and HB No. 5806, or Nurse Appreciation Through Raised Salaries Act.
All the 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,” Vargas said.
More than providing them higher wages, he said the bills are meant to ensure that government professionals “are paid competitively among fellow professionals internationally.”
Sadly, 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.
