Senate Bill No. 74 Proposes ₱2,000 Increase in PERA for Government Workers

Senator Jinggoy Estrada has filed Senate Bill No. 74, seeking to provide much-needed economic relief to government employees by increasing the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (PERA) from ₱2,000 to ₱4,000 per month.

Originally established in 1990 and last adjusted in 2009, PERA was designed to help government workers cope with the rising cost of living. With this proposed measure, PERA will be renamed as the Augmented Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (APERA) to reflect the updated amount and expanded relief goal.

The bill covers all government workers—whether regular, contractual, elective, or appointive—excluding those stationed abroad already receiving overseas allowances.

Senator Estrada emphasized that the proposed adjustment is long overdue, especially amid ongoing inflation and economic challenges faced by public servants across the country.

The bill is currently under legislative review and, if enacted, will directly benefit thousands of government employees nationwide.