COA: Calida, BSP execs among highest paid gov’t officials

Solicitor General Jose Calida was among the highest paid government officials in 2017, a report from the Commission on Audit (COA) showed.

Based on the COA’s “Report on Salaries and Allowances” or ROSA of government officials for 2017 released yesterday, Calida received a total pay of P10.917 million, landing him in fourth spot on the list.

A total of 8,645 officials from 984 national government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions, state universities and colleges and water districts were included in the 2017 ROSA list.

Excluded from the report were elected government officials such as the president, senators and congressmen.

Calida’s pay included P1.827 million as basic salary, P7.984 million as additional compensation and honorarium, P386,142 in allowances, P382,753 in bonuses and P336,000 discretionary funds and miscellaneous expenses.

Calida was appointed solicitor general by President Duterte in July 2016.

Based on the COA’s ROSA for 2016, Calida received a total pay of P2.416 million from July to December. As in previous years, dominating the list for 2017 were officials of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

From the second spot in 2016, BSP governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. topped the 2017 list with total pay of P14.920 million, from P12.282 million in 2016.

Espenilla’s pay for 2017 included P7.193 million as basic salary, P24,000 as additional compensation and honorarium, P2.484 million in allowances, P4.846 million oin bonuses and P371,834 in discretionary funds and miscellaneous expenses.

Espenilla replaced Amando Tetangco Jr. as BSP governor in July 2017 following the latter’s retirement. Tetangco topped the ROSA list for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016).

Second on the 2017 list was BSP deputy governor for Monetary and Economics Sector Diwa Guinigundo with P13.502 million pay from P12.248 million in 2016.

Third on the list was Development Bank of the Philippines president and chief executive officer Cecilia Borromeo with total pay of P12.462 million. Borromeo was elected by the board of directors of the state-owned DBP as its new chief in January last year.

Trailing behind Calida in fifth spot was BSP deputy governor for Resource Management Sector Maria Almasara Cyd Tuaño-Amador with a pay of P10.157 million, followed by Supreme Court Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. with P9.589 million, from P6.941 million in 2016.

Landing in seventh spot was BSP assistant governor for International Monetary Affairs and Surveillance Sub-Sector Wilhelmina Mañalac with P9.277 million, followed by three other BSP officials – assistant assistant governor for Financial Market Operations Sub-Sector Ma. Ramona Gertrudes Santiago with P9.239 million and monetary board members Felipe Medalla and Juan de Zuñiga Jr. with P8.869 million and P8.868 million, respectively.