Some Local Government Units here have assured that they will give salary hikes to their employees if the national government will have it implemented this year.

Gov. George Arnaiz said the provincial government has already set aside P20 million for the salary adjustment. The provincial government employs more than 1,700 people. Arnaiz said the provincial government is expected to have savings of about P70 million for 2006, part of which can be used for the increase.

For his part, Dumaguete Mayor Agustin Perdices said the city government has yet to allocate an amount for the projected increase, but he promised that should there be any salary hike order, he will implement it.

City Administrator Dominador Dumalag said he is also confident that the city hall will have funds for the salary increase, and projected a surplus for the city government. Both Arnaiz and Perdices said that if there is an increase, it should be across-the-board and not by percentage.

The governor said salary hikes by percentage will only widen the salary gap between those who are receiving higher pay and those who are not. "I prefer an across-the-board increase so everybody will receive the same amount," he said.*RA

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