Malacañang to provide shuttle service, ‘Botika ng Bayan’ to public servants

Malacañang yesterday said the government will do all it can to alleviate the plight of workers despite the limited power of the President to rule on wage adjustments.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said because it is no longer within the mandate of the President to rule on wage hikes, the government will do all it can to alleviate the plight of workers.

He added the tripartite sectors of the employers, employees and regional wage boards have the power to decide on wage adjustments and on collective bargaining agreements.

“On the one hand, the President has so far able to help the workers with what she can immediately do for poor government workers,” according to Remonde, enumerating these assistances to include the implementation of shuttle service and the financial service for all government agencies. The package of assistance also includes the availability of more Botika ng Bayan for government employees to avail themselves of affordable and safe medicines.

Remonde also mentioned the additional scholarships for the siblings of government workers and soldiers.

This package of assistance to poor government workers was announced already by the President during her speech before the Armed Forces of the Philippines Leadership Turnover Ceremony on May 1 and again announced by the Press Secretary during his Friday Press Conference at the P2alace yesterday.

However, in his statement Remonde said this same package of assistance for soldiers was also being given to poor government workers in observance of Labor Day and noted the President, in giving these aids, was offering all the government can do under its mandate in order to immediately deliver these assistances to alleviate the plight of poor government workers. –Riza Recio, Daily Tribune