BSP officials, SC justices, Calida among highest paid gov’t execs

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) executives maintained their positions as among the highest paid appointed government officials under the 2016 Report on Salaries and Allowances released recently by the Commission on Audit (COA).

For the first time in several years, one member of the executive department, Solicitor General Jose Calida, made it to the

top 10 officials who earned the most in a year.

Calida, who received 110,917,156.49, placed fourth, trailing only top earner BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr., 114,920,912.77; Deputy Governor Diwa Gunigundo, 113,502,196.88; and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) president Cecilia C. Borromeo, 112,462,714.83.

Senior Supreme Court Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. was last year’s top earner among officials of the judiciary, placing No. 6 and receiving 19,589,126.00.

Ousted Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno earned 16,487,360.00 to land 24th in the list of 8,645 appointees to various posts in government.

Lawyer Hector Villacorta of the powerful Commission on Appointments received the largest total earnings from the legislative department. He was No. 29 with 15,963,567.40 in allowances and salaries.

Members of the Cabinet placed low in the list, with Secretary Fortunato dela Peña of the Department of Science and Technology landing in the 241st spot with an income of 13,275,831.90.

On the other hand, anti-graft officials Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales and Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje Tang ranked 63rd and 68th, respectively. Morales received 14,8712,861.91 while Tang, 14,841,766.69.

Former Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Andres Reyes was 50th, earning 15,179,193.82 in 2017.

COA Chairman Micahel Aguinaldo took home 13,993,366.50 total annual earning to land at 107th.

Compared to the 2016 when it included 11 BSP officials in the top 20 top earners, the 2017 highest paid list now includes 13.