Solicitor General Jose Calida is the second highest paid government official in 2019, the Commission on Audit (COA) said Wednesday.
The COA’s 2019 Report on Salaries and Allowances or ROSA showed Calida received more than P16.952 million last year. Last year, he was ranked sixth.
Former United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) president and CEO Higinio Macadaeg Jr., ranked number one receiving P20.475 million.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno rose to third with P15.45 million. He was 316th in 2018 when he was still the Budget Secretary.
UCPB Exec. Vice President and Head of Treasury Banking Group Eulogio Catabran is fourth receiving ₱15.09 million pesos last year.
BSP Deputy Governor Maria Almasara Tuaño-Amador is in fifth with ₱14.6 million.
Of the top 10, six are from the BSP; three from the UCPB; and one from the Office of the Solicitor General.
TOP 10 HIGHEST PAID GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN 2019
1. Former UCPB Pres. and CEO Higinio Macadaeg Jr. – ₱20,475,205.79
2. Solicitor General Jose Calida – ₱16,952,843.27
3. BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno – ₱15,450,731.07
4. UCPB Exec. VP and Head of Treasury Banking Group Eulogio Catabran – ₱15,097,326.13
5. BSP Deputy Governor Maria Almasara Tuaño-Amador – ₱14,604,660.46
6. BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi Fonacier – ₱14,595,150.67
7. BSP Senior Assistant Governor Dahlia Luna – ₱12,244,273.37
8. BSP Senior Assistant Governor Ma. Ramona Gertrudes Santiago – ₱12,179,712.23
9. Former UCPB Exec. VP and Head of Branch Banking Group Edmond Bernardo – ₱11,586,338.43
10. BSP General Counsel Elmore Capule – ₱11,421,290.17
In 2018, the late BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla was number 1, with then Development Bank of the Philippines president and CEO, currently Land Bank of the Philippines president and CEO Cecilia Borromeo placing second.
The ROSA is the COA’s annual report that summarizes the total payments received by officials in government owned or controlled corporations; national government agencies; and state universities and colleges, and stand-alone agencies.
The Commission said in the report that the ROSA summarizes among others the following: (1) Salaries; (2) Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA)/Additional Compensation (AdCom)/Honorarium; (3) Allowances; (4) Bonuses, Incentives and Benefits; (5) Extraordinary and Miscellaneous Expenses (EME); (6) Indirect Benefits; and such other remunerations and/or prior years’ adjustments of emoluments, which the aforementioned subject officials actually received during the year. These remunerations are received either in cash or in kind and are presented in their equivalent monetary values.
This COA said the report aims to “complement the continuing thrust of the government for transparency and accountability” and summarize total payments and benefits officials received. (Rommel F. Lopez)