Subic, Clark execs highest paid gov’t men

MANILA, Philippines — It’s not only the officers of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) who are enjoying sky-high perks and bonuses from the government.

In 2009, the government officials who received the most in salaries, allowances and “extraordinary and miscellaneous fees” came from—besides the MWSS—the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), the Clark Development Corp. (CDC), the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Social Security System (SSS), and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).

This was according to the Commission on Audit’s report on the salaries and allowances received by principal officers and members of governing boards of government-owned and/or -controlled corporations, and secretaries, undersecretaries and assistant secretaries of national government agencies.

SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza was the official who got the highest salary and allowances from the government in 2009—P26.865 million.

He was followed in the top 10 by CDC President Benigno Ricafort—P14.506 million;

DBP Deputy Chief Executive Officer Edgardo Garcia—P12.718 million; and

BSP Governor Armando Tetangco—P10.772 million;

Udong brother and Bunye

Also on the list of top earners was Ferdinand P. Mahusay of the MWSS Corporate Office, who received P4.6 million in salaries and allowances and was listed 27th.

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s ex-Press Secretary, Ignacio Bunye, was 41st with P4.2 million. He joined the Monetary Board, the policy-making body of the BSP, in June 2008.

Mahusay is a brother of Eugenio “Udong” Mahusay who, in 2003, grabbed headlines when he claimed that his erstwhile boss, then First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo, had signed a check as “Jose Pidal.”

Udong Mahusay, principal witness of Sen. Panfilo Lacson against Mike Arroyo, later retracted his statement after he was “rescued” from a Tagaytay safe house by his relatives and then housing czar Michael Defensor.

The safe house was purportedly provided by Lacson, who had accused Mike Arroyo of stashing away P321 million of campaign funds in banks under the fictitious “Jose Pidal” name.

Besides Mahusay, four other MWSS corporate officers were on the top 41—Alfredo Reyes, Lorenzo Sulaik, Aurora Arnaez and Macra Cruz, the last named recently by President Aquino as officer in charge.

Arreza statement

Commenting on his inclusion on the list, Arreza said his monthly salary was P131,880, with a take-home pay of P95,265. (In comparison, President Aquino’s monthly pay is P95,000 before taxes).

According to the COA, the bulk of the P26.865 million listed under Arreza’s salary and allowances in 2009 fell under the category “extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses.”

“My compensation has remained as it was since I was appointed in 2005. It was the same salary enjoyed by my predecessors and has been set since 2000,” he said. “Extraordinary expenses do not form part of my income. These are expenses of the agency for promotions, advertising and representation. While my office approves them, none of this goes to me personally.”

Arreza added: “Our annual budget exceeds P2 billion annually. Extraordinary expenses only make up less than 1 percent of our total budget. These are also all supported with the requisite receipts and liquidations.

For transparency purposes

The COA has been coming out with the report on the salaries and allowances based on a 1992 memorandum order intended to monitor the salaries and allowances of government officials holding multiple positions.

“The publication of herein data is in accord with the present thrust of the government for transparency in its transactions and operations,” the COA said in its 2009 report.

But it also noted that not all of the government agencies submitted data for this particular report.

For instance, there was no information on the salaries and allowances of the officials of the Government Service and Insurance System (GSIS), the House of Representatives and the Office of the President-Proper.

Extraordinary, miscellaneous

Arreza’s basic annual salary was P1.57 million, according to the report. But he also received P18.160 million in extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses; P6.832 million for “others;” P145,880 in bonus and incentives; and P100,800 in representation and transportation allowances (Rata), among others.

Under the 2009 budget, extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses could include expenses incurred for meetings, seminars, and conferences; official entertainment; public relations; educational and cultural activities; and contributions to charitable institutions.

They could also include membership in government associations; subscription to professional technical journals; office equipment and supplies; and other similar expenses not supported by the regular budget allocation.

Ricafort, Garcia, Tetangco

As for Ricafort, the COA report showed that his basic salary was at P2.078 million. But he also received P10 million in extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses; P832,400 in per diem for sitting in the Board of Directors of the CDC and the Clark International Airport Corp.; P606,056 in Rata; P497,441 in “others”; and P396,344 in bonus and incentives.

Garcia, a board member of several government agencies, received a basic salary of P5.932 million. He also got P5.533 million in “others”; P1.058 million in bonus and incentives; and P173,357 in Rata.

Tetangco’s basic salary in 2009 was P5.738 million. Sitting in more than one agency, Tetangco had P1.174 million in extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses; P3.020 million in bonus and other incentives; and P693,418 in Rata.

Bitonio, Geronimo, Abaya

DBP Executive Vice President Benedicto Ernesto Bitonio Jr. is also an officer of multiple agencies, and his basic salary in 2009 was P4.561 million. Under “others,” he received P3.761 million. He also got P821,070 in bonus and incentives and P105,125 in Rata.

Like his DBP colleagues, DBP Senior Executive Vice President Rolando Geronimo is also a member of several agencies. His basic salary was P4.417 million. He received P3.643 million in “others”; another P796,761 in bonus and incentives; and P162,000 in Rata.

BCDA’s Narciso Abaya, former Armed Forces chief of staff, received a basic salary of P3.079 million. His “others” amounted to P2.094 million, while the total amount of his per diem for sitting in various agencies was P1.534 million. His Rata was at P380,474. –Leila B. Salaverria, Philippine Daily Inquirer