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Bachelor Aquino has to make do with P839,000 annual salary

by Regina Bengco
Malaya

The position of president comes with great power and responsibility but not with a hefty salary.

President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III will receive an annual salary of P839,000. It would translate to P64,538.462 to P69,916.667 per month, depending on whether the amount is divided by 12 or 13 months.

Aquino has said that he plans to give away part of his salary as he is a bachelor.

Based on the prevailing foreign exchange rate, Aquino’s salary would be equivalent to $17,992.709.

However, he would have a say on the expenses of the Office of the President, which has a budget for this year of P4.259 billion, including P2.646 billion for operating expenses. Theoretically, half of the amount is still available for the Aquino administration.

The President also has discretionary funds like the Social Fund, Contingent Fund, intelligence funds, and the proceeds from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

For his part, Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay will receive a salary of P671,000 per year, which is the same as that of the Senate President, Speaker of the House and Chief Justice.

Based on the 2010 budget, each senator, congressman, Cabinet secretary, Supreme Court associate justice, chairman of a Commission, and Presidential Assistant II will receive an annual salary of P587,000.

However, senators and congressmen enjoy pork barrel funds, travel and office expenses, and other privileges. The judiciary also has discretionary funds.

An undersecretary, Council chairman, and the chief of staff of the Vice President receives an annual salary of P419,200.

Dennis Arroyo, policy director of the National Economic and Development Authority, shared during a recent press conference in Malacañang a running joke about the effects of political campaign expenses on the economic growth in the first quarter.

“The running joke was: ‘Thank you, Manny Villar and others’,” Arroyo said.

But Arroyo said election spending accounted only for 0.39 percent of the 7.3 percent gross domestic product in the first quarter.

Political analyst Ramon Casiple said the salary of the President should be raised to about P1 million per month, or equivalent to the salaries of the top executives in the private sector.

Published inBenigno Aquino III

34 Comments

  1. Mike Mike

    I agree, the salary of the president should be at par with that of a CEO of multi-national companies.

  2. Oblak Oblak

    Hindi siguro magiging problema kay Noynoy ang sweldong around P65,000. Mukhang namang hindi maluho ang tao. Nireport nga sa news na sa isang restaurant along Commonwealth Avenue tumuloy ang tropa ni Aquino after the proclamation.

    Umaasa din ako na hindi nya gagamitin ang mga discretionary funds sa pansariling interest.

  3. MPRivera MPRivera

    Suweldo ang pinakasentro ng lahat ng kaganapan sa gobyerno. Pero ang accomplishments ng isang pinuno ay hindi dapat ibinabatay sa kanyang buwanang sahod. Alam ng lahat na karampot lamang ang katumbas ng kanilang paglilingkod, lokal o nasyunal at dito susukatin kung ano’ng uri silang lingkod bayan.

  4. I agree with Mon Casiple, the president’s salary should be increased.

  5. Phil Cruz Phil Cruz

    I agree. It is not realistic to give the President of the largest “corporation” in the land a measly salary of only P839,000 a year. It breeds graft and corruption and attracts only mediocre talents.

    Noynoy himself has said so.

    So what has to be done is to gradually prune the government bureaucracy until it’s lean and mean. Then tighten the qualifications and screening of all who wish to join government as an employee. Then reward only those who perform and penalize those who don’t.

    Then and only then can we start paying the higher salaries that these positions really call for.

  6. although i agree na pag ang salary is very small, gagawa at gagawa nang paraan ang pulitiko to make ends meet and find ways na magnakaw, in the end nasa tao yan.

    salary figure is not really a means to control corruption. para nyo nang sinabing hostage ang salary to do or not to do. you make a government’s official salary at P839,000 A MONTH, they will still steal.

    if we have strong institutions to punish the corrupt not only send a signal BUT SHOW IT IS BEING DONE, yon ang magiging control na mag-dalwang isip ang mga demonyo dyan.

  7. vic vic

    A salary equivalent to $100 thousand a year or a little more is deserving a President of a country…although we all knew that every President in the Past really did not care about their salaries, but it is symbolic of the position and responsibilities of the Head of Government and of the State.

  8. Agree with Reyna. Govt must have a moral backbone — and it’s incumbent upon President-elect Aquino to ennsure that that backbone remains upright.

    That said, I believe it would do well to increase his salary. Nothing against a 100% increase. Will require ammending the law but if Congress wills it it can be done.

  9. Lurker Lurker

    Those truly ravenous people like GMA and company will never have enough, no matter how much they already have. P-noy must make sure to have people around him who are not greedy.

    Off topic: Just heard that P-noy is eying ex Sen. Magsaysay as the next DND chief. Wonder if this is true. The former Senator has a good reputation and has not been tainted with any hint of corruption or scandal.

  10. Obama, last year, earned over $4million dollars.

    He did it the old-fashioned way — he earned it.
    He wrote a successful book!

  11. vonjovi2 vonjovi2

    Don’t forget na iyang salary ng Presidente ay dyan yumaman ng husto ang mga MACAPAGAL-ARROYO.
    House and lot + buildings sa ibang bansa ang pag aari nila.
    Sana huwag mapako ang pangako ni Noynoy at huwag puro dada lang. Kailangan niya ipakita sa taong bayan ang resulta na ma ipakulong ang mga mag nanakaw sa gobyerno lalo na ang pamilyang ARROYO.
    Iyan ang ina asahan ng karamihan at sana huwag puro dada lang.

  12. rose rose

    malaki ang matitipid ng Phil. gov’t sa personal na gastos ni P Noy…sa travel lang..kahit na twice a year pa siya magbiyahe..wala pa segurong sampo ang entourage niya..at walang apo, yaya, hairdresser (top gone naman siya), pomada, etc. sa pananamit naman mas mahal ang terno kaysa sa barong…sa mga sapatos naman..hindi naman seguro aabot sa 1,000 pairs ang magagamit niya…i share na lang niya sa mga kabataan na walang sapatos, walang shirts and pants…kung sino man magregalo sa kanya make it in a form of gifts for the school children in terms of books…maraming paraan ang puede niyang gagawin…and I am sure he will do what is best…smple lang siya…ang malaki seguro niyang pag gagastosan ay hair transplant and it does not leak….

  13. I believe that the true supporters of Aquino did so without conditions, we believe in him. Some, like me, were just unintentional converts.
    I have no delusions of the new president being able to solve all the problems of the Philippines, we have to accept the fact that even in our personal lives, we solve our own problems, we don’t have to wait for someone to solve them for us. It just makes it a bit easier if we see some form of decency in our leaders for a change…

  14. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    Sana huwag biglang lobo (yaman) ang kanyang SALN bilang pangulo. Si Gloria Arroyo ay biglang yaman lalo na ang kanyang mga anak at bayaw.

  15. balweg balweg

    Oppps, 839T sweldo ng Pangulo…e bakit biglang lomobo ang PISO ni Gloria base at ayon sa kanyang declared SAL?

    How about others elected Noypi from Mayors to Senators…kung magsi-asta akala mo RICh e magkano lamang ang sweldo ng mga iyan.

    Kaya mahirap tanggapin ang katotohanan na ginagawang palabigasan ng mga damuho ang pagiging lingkod-bulsa. Kung nasa poder nga naman ng kapangyarihan e kaya nilang gawin ang gusto nilang gawin.

    Kawawang Pinas…

  16. balweg balweg

    RE: I agree, the salary of the president should be at par with that of a CEO of multi-national companies.

    Well, Igan Mike…What is the essence of being a public servant kung sweldo ang pag-uusapan…dapat doon sila mag-apply ng work sa mga Multi-national companies?

    Inihalal sila ng taong bayan…so dapat una sa lahat, ang aims at goals nila e upang paglingkuran ang bayan at mamamayan.

    Di naman sila pinilit upang tumakbo sa ano mang posisyon sa gobyerno so dapat maglilingkod sila ng taus-puso at di magnanakaw, mangwawaldas o aabuso sa kapangyarihan.

    Kung magrereklamo sila sa sweldo e hindi sila karapat-dapat sa paglilingkod bayan.

    Ang mga lingkod nga ng bawat religious organizations e nabubuhay lamang sa allowance or bigay ng mga faithfull believers…pero lingkod-pananampalataya naman sila.

    Kaya dapat ang mga lingkod-bayan e magpakatotoo sila sa kanilang sinumpaang tungkulin na magsisilbi sila sa bayan at mamamayan ng walang pag-iimbot at kasinungalingan.

    Sure uunlad ang Pinas!

  17. rose rose

    si Mayor Bloomberg ng NYC hindi ata kumukuha ng sweldo..ganoon din ang mga anak niya na nagtratabajo sa office niya as mayor..at doon siya nakatira sa dating bahay niya at hindi sa Gracie Mansion…ang balita pa nga bmapasok siya sa opisina niya na sakay ng subway…magagawa din ito ng mga may kaya sa atin kung tunay ang pagsilbi ang hinahangad…magagawa kaya ito sa atin?

  18. I have no delusions of the new president being able to solve all the problems of the Philippines, we have to accept the fact that even in our personal lives, we solve our own problems, we don’t have to wait for someone to solve them for us</blockquote — Jug

    Agree and as Jug says makes it a bit easier if we see some form of decency in our leaders for a change

    The new govt should provide the structure, physical and moral. Difficult for impoverished people to solve problems related to health and education because infrastructures are half efficient or inadequate.

  19. rose rose

    “decency” is a big consideration in P NOy’s choice of who will help him…mukhang ok naman yong mga ilan s palagid niya..Ochoa is one trusted friend niya…kailangan niya na ang mga kasama niya ay “trusted” niya…like his choioe for the chief of His Presidential security…at mukhang mga bata pa..dapat wala ng siraulo gonzales and his kind..PNoy needs to hear and listen to the elders but he needs the younger ones as well..he should have the young once to give pointers and the young ones to do the leg work…maiba ako buhay pa ba si siraulo?

  20. rose rose

    na miss ko ang mukha ni FiG…buhay pa ba siya?…hindi ko rin naririnig si brenda..kailan ang session sa Senate? I miss the noise of brenda…

  21. Oblak Oblak

    Mareng Rose, hindi na nagpakita si Raul Gonzales pagkatapos matalo sa election. Yung anak nya (na natalo rin) ang nakita ko sa TV na nasa Kongreso sa hearing ng pandaraya sa election.

    Si FG, hindi na nagpapakita pagkatapos nung fiesta ng lechon sa La Loma.

    Si Brenda, kumukuha yan ng timing kung paano makaka penetrate sa circle ni Aquino to lobby (again) for her beloved husband. Pag hindi naipwesto ang better half, mag oopposition na yan.

  22. parasabayan parasabayan

    Whew, natapos na rin ang elections. The real thing is on hand. Ang kaban ng bayan ay inubos na ni pandak kaya yung suweldo ni Noy ay “frozen” muna. Bago tayo magbigay ng umento, tignan muna natin ang kanyang kakayahan. Sa totoo lang hindi naman yung sweldo ang nakukuha ng pangulo. Ang mga perks ng pangulo ang mas nakakalula! Libre lahat hindi lang para sa pangulo kundi para rin sa mga kamaganak at mga kaibigan, at puro first class pa! Kaya nga hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit yung mga nakaupo sa tronong ito ay nangungurakot pa!

    Tatlo pa lang ang nabilang ko na nabago noong nanalo siya: Una, yung paninigarilyo niya. Ang sabi niya noong nangangampanya siya, hihintuan na niyang manigarilyo. Ngayong nanalo siya, huwag naman daw kunin itong nagiisang bisyo niya dahil sobrang pressure daw ang presidency, hindi niya kayang i-give up ito dahil ito na lang daw and naiiwang konsuelo niya. Pangalawa, sabi ni Kris, mangingibang bansa daw siya kung mananalo si Noy kung kinakailangan para hindi siya nakakasagabal sa pagpapatakbo ng bansa. Noong proclamation sa Congress, nandun lahat ang mga magkakapatid at kanya kanyang pick na sila ng gusto nilang hawakang project para kay Noy. Pangatlo, sabi ni Noy noon, hindi siya mag-eemploy ng malapit na kamag-anak. Eh ano ang tawag sa kanyang mga sisters,
    alalays lang?

    I give Noy a year to make sure he does what he promised. Ang sabi nga ng mga bumoto sa kanya, busilak daw ang kalooban niyang maglingkod ng bayan. Let us give him the benefit of the doubt. Pasilip silip lang ako dito kay Ellen at tsaka na lang ako babanat kung kinakailangan. Katulad dito sa US, hindi ko ibinoto si Obama kaya lang, I am keeping my eye on him as well.

  23. Lurker Lurker

    Parasabayan: re” Pangatlo, sabi ni Noy noon, hindi siya mag-eemploy ng malapit na kamag-anak. Eh ano ang tawag sa kanyang mga sisters,
    alalays lang?”

    Palagay ko ang tawag sa kanila ay SISTERs nga, diba? Stop the carping…get on with your life.

  24. Diego K. Guerrero Diego K. Guerrero

    Ang huling hirit ni Gloria Arroyo ay puro kasungalingan at fantasia. Pati baliw ay ayaw maniwala sa kanya.

  25. vic vic

    Now in comparison, the Basic Salary of MP is $150 thousands and change and double that if one is the PM and a little extra for Cabinet Minister. But as privilege for service to the country only half of it is taxable and they MPs have a very Generous Pension plans at an earlier retirement age and depending and the years of Service…the more years getting re-elected the Bigger the Pensions to compensate the money they could have earned in Private Practice (doctors and lawyers could easily gross $1 million or more)or as CEOs…

  26. Lurker Lurker

    Palagay ko, hindi pa rin makapaniwala si GMA/alipores na mawawala na sila! Pati nga sa TV at radyo, panay pa ang labas na kanyang mga apologists. Kanina na lamang umaga, si Lola Charito Planas naman sa CH. 4 ang nagsasabi na dapat daw parliamentary tayo kasi mas matipid! Tigil na kayo at lalo lamang nabwibwisit ang mga tao sa inyo at sa bosing liit ninyo!

    Huling hirit pa bago oblivion…

  27. martina martina

    Iyon kayang senador na nakakulong, magtitipid din kaya sa travel expenses? Anak ng tinapa, nakakulong na nga, mas magastos pa sa travel, ahh siguro kalakaran na yon. Alam ko maraming die hards ni senador dito, pero sana ma publish naman ang kanyang mga accomplishments, kung meron man, para maiba tingin ko sa kanya. Sa ngayon ay tingin ko ay big waste siya. Kung hindi niya nagagampanan ang kanyang tungkulin, to be fair siguro dapat i give up na lang niya.

  28. Lurker Lurker

    Martina, may website si Sen. Trillanes at doon nakalagay ang kanyang mga accomplishments (kahit na nakakulong) at saan napunta ang funds niya. Just google his name.

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