Episode 7- Mula Malacañang Hanggang Barangay: Makatarungan ba ang Sahod?

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Philippe: Curious ako Gab.

Gab: Yes, why?

Philippe: May idea ka ba about sa salaries ng politicians here in the Philippines?

Gab: Not quite. There are, but I’m excited to find out.

Philippe: Okay, alright. So, maybe with a very quick Google, okay? We’re going to need to look for legit sources, okay? We can’t just find, like, any website. So, the first site that I saw on the top, the very top search, see assistance.ph, okay?

So, dito yung mga salary grades. I’m not sure kung updated ito, okay? Let’s have a look.

Salary grade 2025 of Philippine government officials under SSL. Let’s start here, senators and congressmembers. Have an annual income of approximately, approximately. So, it has a range, okay? 2.8 million pesos. This is annual, guys, not monthly.

So, what happens if we divide that? 2.8 over 12. So,

Gab: Somewhat 240, 240,000? Sort of, yes, per month.

Philippe: So, I’m not sure if it’s the same for each congressman and each senator. Maybe senators are to the higher. Siguro the higher echelon of that part, right? Here, it says governors, mayors, and councillors earn between 120 to 540 pesos annually.

Let’s calculate 120. So, it’s like 12,000 a month, less than minimum? Yes. Hmm. This doesn’t seem, this sounds like it’s a bit fishy. Let’s compute 540,000 over 12 months. 45,000 pesos. Yeah. So, okay. So, ano yan ah, Governors, mayors, councillors. Which, I know, it’s different for each province, region, and location.

So, dito naman, salary grade 33, president. So, the last salary range, I think, why until 2023? We don’t have 2024. But what’s written here in 2023? The salary of the president, 419,000. 419,000, yes.

Gab: I also saw the same thing. Somewhat 423,000 per month. Per month? Per month.

Philippe: Okay. Per month. So, VP, 331,000. Yes. Senator, 278,000 per month. So, what’s this? As of 2023. Okay. Yeah. Bonus incentives. They have 13 months, they have mid-year bonuses. Performance-based bonuses.

Representation and transportation allowance. Cash gift. Wow, there’s a lot. Longevity pay. Yeah. And that’s about it. Yeah. So, what do you guys think of their salaries? Sapat ba?

Gab: There are a few questions that would be somehow, let’s say, beneficial for Filipino people. Like, for example, if they ask, for these kinds of officials, are their salaries fair for their workload? Good question. And so, well, some people say that, okay, these politicians, these officials, they have a huge workload, huge responsibilities. And therefore, they should be paid well. And then, others also say na parang, okay, they only do a little. They do little work, making salaries seem excessive. Kasi for politicians versus normal workers, it’s almost 10 times their salary. So, yeah.

Philippe: I found a table that has a better breakdown of things. So, let’s start. We’ll go through this. Okay, minimum salary that a president can get is 438. The maximum that a president can get is 451.

So, I don’t know why there’s a minimum and a maximum, right? VP, 347 minimum, 398 maximum. Senate President, 347, just like the VP. Oh, it’s just like the VP din. Maximum, 398. Speaker of the House, 347. It’s like the VP too. So, from si VP, Senate, Speaker of the House, Chief Justice, pareparehas sila ng sahod, minimum and maximum. Senator, 293 minimum, 334 maximum. Congressman or Representatives, 293 minimum, 334 maximum.

I’ll send this table so para at least meron tayong reference. Supreme Court, Justice, Associate, 293. Wow, they have a high salary. Maximum, 334. So, see, from Congressman or Representative up to Supreme Court, Associate, Justice, Constitutional Commission Chairman, Department Secretary, Executive Secretary, Solicitor General, up to Solicitor General.

They’re just the same. 293 minimum and 334 maximum. There are more buttons, I don’t know, just don’t go ahead. Constitutional Commissioner, Constitutional Commission Commissioner. Oh, yung kanina Chairman. So, Constitutional Commission Commissioner, 203,000 or maximum 226.

Same lang din the Department Undersecretary. There’s no end of the table. So, I don’t know about the other lower, USEC, ASIC, and all that. But pretty interesting.

Let’s go back to your question. Let’s go back to your question. Are their salaries enough on a monthly basis with all the stress and the workload that they’re getting on their day-to-day operations running the country? Is it enough? What do you think?

Gab: It’s difficult to say, but I think they could connect this system where pay is connected to achievements. The more they pass this, the more they put this to their platforms, the more they add to this, that’s where they could base their pay.

Philippe: I think there is. This is their base pay. So, it’s not included in the bonuses, the performance. Nakita ko dito kanina. I did mention it’s called the performance-based, what do you call that? Yeah, performance-based bonus, PBB. Yeah, PBB. So, these salary ranges are as of 2023.

So, we don’t know the updated of 2024 and maybe 2025, but I’m pretty sure they’re about the same. Siguro naman, because in the private sector, people earn this much. So, maybe it’s correct, it’s not enough. That’s why there are a lot of people who say no. No. But I think it compensates their daily needs in terms of operational stuff. I was president for 6 years. The Senate and Representatives, or congressmen and women, together with VP, 6 years then.

We were from mayor, city councilors. What about the barangay? They’re in the election of the senator. So, the barangay is every 3 years? Yes. It’s a new barangay, it’s still chaotic. Yes, it’s still chaotic. Because I don’t know if it will extend. Maybe it will be 6 years? Is that what they passed in the congress? They will adjust it to 9 years to join the next election. Wow. Congrats sa mga nakaupo. Plus more years. Plus more years to your achievements in your barangays. You can serve more. You can serve more.

Let’s spread positivity.

To the constituents who are very stubborn, you have no choice. You might as well deal with your LGU officials. I’ve been around LGU officials. They work very hard and it’s stressful.

It’s a very stressful job being part of the leadership. And to be honest, it’s us, the constituents. It’s the citizens. They are noisy. The problem is we don’t see that the problem lies within us. It’s within us.

Our leaders are just there to help us achieve what we need. Yung iba sinasabi ah tamad. The constituents are lazy too. They offer good activities. It doesn’t involve the citizens. That’s a big debate. But I’m in both sides.

I’ve been consulting a lot of people under government. I see their hardship. And hindi nga talaga sapat itong sahod na ito. Not really. Kawawa sila. Especially the LGU government. They are poor. They deal with everyday issues and problems within the barangays.

It’s not for everyone. Kaya yung mga nakaupo doon, even if we say that they are lazy, lazy, or too aggressive, I salute them. Because they could manage the stress. If people were in their shoes, they wouldn’t be here. I’m curious. We haven’t seen the barangay level. Let’s do a quick search. Let’s do barangay captain’s salary.

Am I reading it right?

Gab: Barangay salary grade 1, 2, 3. 15,000, 25,000, 35,000?

Philippe: Geez. For real? That’s all? For a grade 3 barangay official, it’s 35,000 pesos. So it depends on the barangay. It depends on the grade. I’m assuming grade 1 is for the provincials.

Provincial barangay captains. Minimum like that. Yes. Okay.

Gab: For grade 3? For grade 3, it’s almost 35,000.

Philippe: So it depends on how big the barangay is. I think the bigger the barangay, the bigger the salary is. For a kagawad? For a kagawad, it says here that the estimated total pay for an elected barangay kagawad is 58,208 per month in the Philippines. That’s Philippines 2025.

So yeah. I think that depends on the classification. I saw this other table. Usually first class cities are the highest. Yes. So SK member is 21,000. Barangay kagawad, SK chairperson 23,000. Barangay chairperson, which is a full barangay, 33,000. That’s first class cities. So it’s six classes up to the sixth.

So for sixth class municipalities, that means those in rural areas, small barangays. For SK member, 13,787. Kagawad and SK chairperson, 15,000. Punong barangay, 21,998. So 22,000. That’s for rural areas. So mga first class cities. So for example, here in Quezon City, we’re first class. Ang lalaki ng mga barangays dito. So there are classifications.

They categorize that based on how big, I think, how big ng population of the barangay.

Gab: Maybe it’s because by how much they manage, that’s associated to how much they get paid also.

Philippe: I believe so, yes. By the way, this source that I read earlier is from Rappler.

It’s one of my good sources. Imagine this. There’s a debate that I…

Here’s a funny debate that I wanted to talk about before. Because these are the people who get paid. They’re the frontliners. If there’s a pandemic, if there’s a baha, if there’s a chaos, the barangay officials, the LGUs, and then it goes up to our mayor, our councilors, and all that.

The thing is, you know, you see the garbage men. Yes. Did you know that they get paid 800 to 1,000 daily? Did you know that? No, I didn’t. Not everyone’s aware. It’s not 800. Let’s say, if they’re hardworking, 800 to 1,000 a day, if they’re hardworking.

I know this because I talked to one of them. The others, they start at 600. Because their one round trip, they get paid 150. One round trip, one trip out to collect garbage. Yes, they get paid. So, if they get paid four times, or 150 times four, that’s 600.

Yung iba mas masipag. Pasok sila ng pasok. Sometimes they get paid six rounds, or more. So, depende sa management ng truck drivers. Because the trucks are not government-owned. They’re vendors of the government. So, it’s like a private company.

They’re the vendors of, for example, City of Quezon City. They hire this company to collect garbage. Yes, it’s high. It’s not a salary. Because each round trip, it’s not consistent, but these garbage boys, when they’re hardworking, they save on that range, 600 to 1,000 in a day, even more.

But look at their job. You’re in the dirt. Literally, you’re in the dirt. You’re full of sh*t, full of rotten stuff, of trash, and all that. Would you want to be a garbage boy?

Gab: Of course, the first answer is no. But if that’s what life gives you…

Philippe: For example, you don’t have anything. You can’t get a job. And if you get a job, it’s only 300 pesos per day. I’ll go with it. I’ll go with it. You’re garbage. You don’t need skills. You just have to use your body. That’s your investment. I’m talking the same way here.

Why are they a good example? Because they’re the people, the garbage men are the people who experience trash every single day of their work. And they’re being paid shit. It’s not high, but it’s high compared to a call center agent, 800 a day.

But with an aircon, with a Yosi Brake. You have a break? You have a break. In other places, like BPO, if you work in Google, it’s free. It’s a nice place. And it’s comfortable. The seats are nice.

Our LGUs are sort of similar when it comes to… I’m not saying they’re garbage. All I’m saying is that they deal with a lot of garbage on a day-to-day basis. And this is their salary. Their salary is high, if you think about it. As an SK member, as a kid, in a first-class city, 21,000.

That’s a lot. Others, they work in corporate, they’re still at 21,000. Others work in grocery or merchandiser, they’re at 21,000.

SK chairman, you’re in leadership, 21,000, hindi yan sapat. I believe leadership salary should be higher, maybe even double, at least double for me. Because they deal with garbage every single day. For someone in corporate, you work in an office, let’s say you’re a receptionist, you earn 20,000. You don’t deal with garbage every single day, right? Wow, you even have an air-conditioner. You’re very close to the people here. You’re comfortable.

But when you’re in leadership, especially in the barangay, it’s not easy. But the argument of other constituents, that’s why it’s low. Because it’s low. That was actually true with PNP. It’s true with PNP. When Duterte increased their salary, the corruption in PNP decreased.

The POs, how much is their salary now? That’s what we need to find out right now. What’s the first level of the police? PO1. The lowest is PO1.

I think there’s a classification for this as well. 2025. Did you know? Yeah, I saw that too. No, this is a lending company. Screw that.

But, they’re kind of right. I’m not sure. Guys, we’re not sponsoring this or anything, but they’re a lending company from what I know. But they have a table here for PNP, PO1 officers. Look for another source. But I’m going to go through this.

So, PO1, 29,668. 30,000. Before Duterte, it was 15,000. Tell me how much. That’s it. Somewhere there. That’s why a lot of police really went sideways. But when Duterte President Rodrigo Duterte will pass. What’s that?

A lot of people, andaming tumino. He also cleaned the PNP. So, PO2, 30,800. 31. PO3, 32. Senior PO1, 33. The difference is around 1,000. Senior PO2, PO3, 34,000. Senior Police Officer, 38,000. Police Inspector, 49,528. Almost 50,000. Police Senior Inspector, PINSP, PSINSP, 56,000. Chief Inspector, Chief Inspector Police Major, 62,000. Police Superintendent, 71,000. Police Senior Superintendent, 80,000. Police Chief Superintendent, 91. Police Brigadier General, by classifications, they have a lot of people. 91,000. Police Director, Police Major General, 102,000. Police Deputy General, Police Lieutenant General, 125,000. Police Director, Police General, or PGEN, 149,000.

They also have longevity pay. Yeah. Medjo okay ah. They also have quarterly allowance. But it’s low. It’s only 400 per quarterly allowance. Longevity pay is okay. For a PO1, patrolman, PO3K, the biggest is the Police General, 74,000. Aside from their basic salary, they have longevity pay.

It’s equivalent to 10% of their basic monthly pay. For every 5 years of service. So every 5 years, if you last longer than 5 years, it’s equivalent to 10% of your actual pay. Which is not bad. So this is really good.

There are a lot of people na tumino dito. It’s a big jump. Imagine, you’re already earning P15,000 or P16,000. It’s doubled. That’s a big help. In cases of leadership, I think if it’s doubled, I think they’ll find ways to even perform better.

I would lead if I was in top leadership. Or if I was in Congress, I would really lead the LGUs. Kagawa, Puno Barangay, even the Tanod. Is there anyone keeping the peace?

If there’s trouble, it’s them. They’re the first responders. First responders. How much is our salary? We’re talking about PNP, right? Firemen. What I hear, mostly volunteer. As much as I don’t want to use digital, again, we’re not sponsored by them or anything like that. But they have a very good table.

Okay. If we have PO1, we have FO1 here. Fire Officer 1, Base Pay. 29,668. It’s big. Fire Brigade. FO2, Fire Officer 2, 30,000. 867, so it’s 31. FO3, Senior Fire Officer, 33. Senior Fire Officer 2, 34. Senior Fire Officer 3, 34. 761. So, 700 difference. Senior Fire Officer, 38,000. They’re really, for me, they’re high risk. Yeah. High risk.

Especially if there’s a fire, there’s always a lot. Fire Inspector, 49,000. Fire Senior Inspector, 56. Fire Chief Inspector, 62. Fire Superintendent, 71. Fire Senior Superintendent, 80,000. Fire Chief Superintendent, 91,000. Fire Director, 102. Is your monthly base pay? Of 2025. Yeah. Okay, digital. Interesting. Interesting.

Yeah? I think, I think they need to, even them, they deserve to have, to double their pay. Yeah. Because they’re high risk. Imagine, no one wants to be in a fire brigade. No one. Those who are burned, because there’s no one. Right? Then, there’s a lot in the fire brigade who are volunteers.

I greet them, they’re just volunteers. Right? They’re just helping. Honest man’s work. I call that public service. Yeah, service. Yeah. That’s true public service if you volunteer to, that’s true public service. Who else? Who else are the officials that we need to know?

So, let me reiterate. The ones we’re reading from sources, these are, I wouldn’t say that, it’s not that we haven’t verified them, it’s just these are some of the sources. They’re good sources. And we could verify them. Now, if we made a mistake, you could just comment your way in and just tell us you were wrong and we could invite, actually sooner or later we’re going to invite these, I wouldn’t say officials, but people that run the city, people that run the country, like on this podcast, we’ll ask them, exactly.

We’ll start with a, I don’t know, do you know a PO1? Maybe we could invite them. We’ll invite them. I know a captain. So, I’m going to see. Next, let’s talk about the salary of the soldiers.

Army. If there’s a war, are we going? Army salary. Digido is good. Digido, if you know who the SEO is, you’re good. He’s always the first one. You were even the first in the Philippine Army. They lost.

Today’s military. Let’s go, Digido. And it’s not because you’re the number one, because you have a table and the table is ready. Yeah.

That’s why it’s convenient. But I’m sure you verified that, Digido, because you’re a lending company. You’re legit from what I hear. Guys, I’m not promoting them, but Digido, maybe. Alright. Officers. Enlisted personnel. Okay. The lowest. Private. Twenty-nine. Twenty-nine thousand.

What? Twenty-nine thousand sixty-eight. Private first class. Thirty thousand two, six, one. I’m just curious. Why are the salaries like this? The difference is five hundred to seven hundred only, right? Yes. Corporal. Six hundred, yeah. Thirty thousand, eight hundred, sixty-seven.

So, there’s no private first class to corporal. Only five hundred difference. Sergeant. Thirty-one thousand, four hundred, eighty-four. Staff Sergeant. Thirty-two thousand. Technical Sergeant. Thirty-two, seven, five, six. Master Sergeant. Thirty-three, four, one, one. Senior Master Sergeant. Thirty-four, zero, seven, nine. Chief Master Sergeant. Thirty-four, seven, six, one. When you go up, Second Lieutenant. Forty-three. Ah, this is the big difference. First Lieutenant. Forty-nine. Oh. Five K to six thousand.

Okay. That’s it. That’s the difference. When you’re captain in the army, fifty-six already. That’s it. Five to six K already. Major. Sixty-two. Lieutenant. Colonel. Seventy-one. Colonel. Eighty. Brigadier. General. General. Ninety-one. Major General. One-oh-two. Lieutenant General. One-two-five. General. One-four-nine. General.

There’s a huge difference between enlisted personnel and officers, talaga. Ito dapat taasa naman. Yeah. They’re the ones there.