House assures SSL passage on Dec. 16

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (Photo courtesy of Cong. Regina Ongsiako-Reyes / YesMarinduque.com)

MANILA – House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II assured yesterday that the proposal of Salary Standardization Law (SSL) will be passed by Dec. 16.

The House of Representatives would also pass the proposed P3.002-trillion 2016 budget along with the passage of the SSL, which seeks a salary increase on government employees.

“The Congress is committed to the SSL and the 2016 national budget to ensure the continued delivery of basic services. The SSL will definitely ease the financial dilemma of government employees,” Belmonte said.

The SSL is now on its third and final reading, and Gonzales appeals to his colleagues to attend the session of passing the SSL and the ratification of next year’s national budget. However, the bicameral conference committee is currently addressing conflicting versions of the proposals.

The SSL 2015 was passed on second reading last Nov.

11 by the chamber after the House committee approved the appropriations on the same day.

The SSL was funded with P226-billion appropriation, and seeks to pay over 1.5 million government employees, on four-year period. The law also grants them 14th month pay by their midyear bonus.