Tinio to DBM: Touch-move! Protect P55-B personnel fund for long-overdue PERA increase in 2027, no more congressional insertions

ACT Teachers Representative and Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio called on the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to firm up its commitment to increase the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) by 2027, as agency officials disclosed during the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) budget hearing that a study is underway to recommend an increase to the President.

During the hearing, Tinio pressed DBM Secretary Kim De Leon to confirm the administration’s plan for the long-stagnant allowance received by civilian government employees.

“Tama po ba ang intindi ko, sabi ni Secretary Kim, may study ngayon and then they will hopefully recommend to the President that by 2027 ay mag-implement ng increase sa PERA o Personal Economic Relief Allowance. Tama po ba ang intindi ko? Yun ang sinabi nyo kanina?” Tinio asked, to which the DBM Secretary confirmed.

“Touch-move na yan. Ibig sabihin, ang plano talaga or recommendation is by 2027, may increase sa PERA. At matutuwa po ang lahat ng mga government employees na nandito, yung mga regular. Dahil pinag-uusapan natin yung additional 2,000 a month na matagal ng napako,” Tinio said.

The ACT Teachers solon then questioned the DBM on the proposed funding source, noting the P55 billion lump sum under the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF). DBM officials estimated that a P1,000 increase in PERA would require P24 billion annually.

“Kaya ko po tinatanong yan kasi nga, 55 billion pesos ang nasa MPBF. Isang lump sum po yan at sabi nyo, dyan maaaring kunin. And earlier, in my interpretation sinabi ko, historically, yung MPBF, isa sa mga ginagalaw, binabawasan to make room for congressional insertion. So, kaya gusto ko pong idiin, Mr. Chair, na malinaw na ang plano dito, sa P55 billion ay pangpondo sa PERA ng mga government employees. So dapat hindi na ito galawin at bawasan ng Kongreso,” Tinio stressed.

Tinio also pointed out the glaring disparity between the treatment of civilian personnel and military and uniformed personnel (MUP), noting that the subsistence allowance for MUPs was more than doubled from P150 to P350 per day, with P74 billion allocated across agency budgets for 2027.

“Ang pinupunto ko lang ay ganun kalaki po ang nilaan for the increase in subsistence allowance. Bali second year na po ito. Tama ba? So kailangan na pong ihabol natin yung sa civilian which is PERA. So wala na pong galawan. Yung lang sinasabi na. Babantayan po natin ito,” Tinio said.

The lawmaker vowed to closely guard the MPBF against any reductions or realignments to ensure that civilian government employees, including teachers and non-teaching personnel, will finally see the increase in their PERA by 2027.