SEN. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada has filed a proposed measure that seeks to double the amount of government subsidy to state workers due to the continuing rise in the cost of living as a result of the surging prices of oil products.
In filing Senate Bill No. 1027, Estrada said the P2,000 monthly aid under the Personnel Economic Relief Assistance is no longer enough, adding the government has to double it to P4,000 a month due to inflation.
Once signed into law, he said PERA will be known as Augmented Personnel Economic Relief Assistance (APERA).
Under the proposed measure, those who will be covered by APERA are the military and other members of the uniformed service, regular civilian employees, and contractual government employees, whether appointed or elected.
Those who are stationed abroad and are already receiving overseas allowances shall not be entitled to APERA, Estrada said.
PERA was first granted in 1990 to all government employees to soften the impact of inflation due to the impact of the Gulf War. The initial amount given was P500 a month but was increased to P2,000 in 2009.
“With the continued rise of prices of commodities and gasoline, the P2,000 Personnel Economic Relief Allowance is definitely not enough to help them tide over the financial difficulties,” Estrada said.
