Olongapo city supports SSL for SBMA employees

The local government of Olongapo City has passed a resolution in support of the request of workers from the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to implement the long overdue salary standardization.

Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino and SBMA Director Cynthia Paulino attended the regular session of the city council to support the passing of the resolution.

The resolution was passed unanimously by all the councilors Wednesday.

In the resolution, it requested President Benigno Aquino to grant the request of SBMA employees to implement the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) for state workers in Subic whose salaries are way bellow the standards.

Mayor Paulino, a former Subic volunteer himself said that he is all for the implementation of the salary standardization for SBMA employees.

“Isa ako sa unang volunteer dyan, kasama ng mga SBMA employee ngayon, actually ang ID ko ay 002 nung unang nagupisa ang SBMA, kaya alam ko at ramdam ko ang hirap ng mga mangagawa ng SBMA,” Paulino said.

Mayor Paulino added that he had already called on all the mayors of municipalities adjacent to the Freeport to pass the same resolution in their respective towns to show support for SBMA workers.

On Wednesday, the third day of the mass action by SBMA employees, workers lighted candles in front of Bdlg. 229, the administration building of SBMA.

Employees also wore black armbands with the mark "SSL now."

Richard Tabangin, a member of the SBMA Employees Association (SEA) said, SBMA employees have been seeking the approval of the Office of the President since 2011, to no avail.

Tabangin added that the salaries of SBMA employees are way below what other COCC’s and local government units are getting.

Meanwhile, SBMA Director Cynthia Paulino said that the board had already approved the budget for the standardization and that they have already sent a request to the office of the president for his approval.

SBMA had approved in its 2015 budget the amount of P400M for the implementation of the salary standardization and 10-percent increase for the SBMA workers.

Both Mayor Paulino and Dir. Paulino attended the candle light vigil organized by the SBMA workers on Wednesday to show support.

Photos:
Olongapo City Mayor Rolen Paulino talks to SBMA workers to show his support for the standardization of their salaries during a vigil in front of the Administration Bldg. (OCPAO)