EDITORIAL

Doubling salaries of House members

While thousands are losing their jobs, there are proposals not only to increase the number of congressmen but also to double the salaries of members of Congress. There is a proposal to increase the salaries of senators and members of the House of Representatives from P48,915 to P91,000 a month,” according to a news release from the office of Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III.

Guingona said the proposed salary increase is contained in Joint Resolution 24, which is awaiting approval from both chambers. He said the pay adjustment and the suggestion to increase the number of congressmen would be a big burden to taxpayers. “Lawmakers should first adjust the salaries of public school teachers, soldiers and policemen before fattening their own pay.”
Guingona also criticized proposals to pad the seats in the House from 250 to as many as 350, saying “House seats are being increased to accommodate allies of the administration at the people’s expense.”

He cited a bill approved by the House, which seeks the creation of a new congressional district in Camarines Sur apparently intended for President Arroyo’s youngest son, incumbent first district Rep. Diosdado Arroyo.

Arroyo succeeded Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., who has represented Camarines Sur’s first district for nearly nine years before joining the Cabinet.
Andaya is expected to reclaim his House seat after Mrs. Arroyo’s term. His father, the late Rolando Andaya,represented the first district for three terms.

As proposed, the Andayas’ bailiwick would be split into two districts. The new district would include two towns from the second district so it would have sufficient territory. Thus, if Secretary Andaya decides to run in next year’s elections, Rep. Arroyo could seek a second term in the envisioned new district.

The bill creating the new legislative constituency is now pending in the Senate committee on local government. However, committee chairman Sen. Benigno Aquino III is reportedly reluctant to endorse the measure because the proposed two districts have a population of less than 500,000.

Under the Constitution, a congressional district must have a population of at least 250,000. Like Guingona, Sen. Francis Pangilinan has also opposed the proposal to increase the number of congressmen, saying it would be too expensive on the part of taxpayers.

Aside from personal and staff salaries and expenses, lawmakers receive annual pork barrel allocations collectively amounting to more than P20 billion. The pork barrel dispenses P200 million for each of the 24 senators and P70 million for each of the 238 members of the House of Representatives. Need we say more?