Surely, the unanimous approval by the House Appropriation Committee of the joint resolution seeking to raise the salaries of government employees effective middle of this year has lifted the waning dynamism of the millions of state workers.

For so long the clamor of the low-salaried public servants for an increase in their monthly pay had been left unattended by the government despite the promises of politicians.

With the steadily increasing cost of living through the years the possibility of maintaining a growing family without the corresponding raise in income is nil.

That’s how far the government has been abusing the civil servants, to say the least.

But it is not only the rank and file of state workers that will be benefited by the joint resolution: above all, it will be a boon to the President, Vice-President, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House and all members of both Houses of Congress whose adjusted salaries will be more than double their current rates.

The only difference is that they will not be receiving the increases now because they will take effect only after the next elections when the newly elected officials assume office.

As we all know, state employees are poorly compensated compared to their private counterparts – and the gap is widening.

And yet, they are the ones who compose the bureaucracy that supports and makes the government function through the various bureaus and agencies of the Executive Department as well as the other two branches of the government: the Congress and the Judiciary.

Although there are in many cases appointments to government positions through patronage, most civil servants obtained their positions through the merit system, that is, passing the required civil service examinations.

Public servants have been classified as “civilian sector employees working for government department or agency.”

The joint resolution, identified as “JR 24,” which the House approved last Wednesday, seeks to modify the present Compensation and Position Classification System (CPCS) to make it more responsive to the economic needs of state personnel.

Under its transitory provisions, the Constitution mandates that “At the earliest possible time, the Government shall increase the salary scale of the other officials and employees of the National Government.”

The House resolution, clearly, is in response to such constitutional specification to provide government workers with adequate incentives to encourage them to become more efficient and competent in the pursuit of public duties.

In a certain sense, such House move is expected to enlighten and ennoble civil service.

JR 24 is now awaiting plenary approval by the House after which the Senate concurrence and finally to the President for assent.

(zhern_218@yahoo.com)