COMMISSION on Higher Education Chairwoman Patricia Licuanan was the top earner among President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet officials in 2016, according to a report from the Commission on Audit.
She made P2,581,615 including P1.43 million in wages, P192,100 in additional compensation and honorariums, P351.565 in allowances, P272,246 in bonuses and incentives, and P336,000 in discretionary funds.
On the no. 2 spot was Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell Ubial who received P2,408,063.31, which included P943,757.45 as assistant health secretary from January to June 2016 and P1,294,412.14 for the second half of 2016 as health secretary.
Ubial also held positions in the governing boards of four government hospitals and as member of the boards of other bodies for which she was not paid. And as chairwoman of the board of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. she received P167,393.72.
Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña received P1,359,192.50, followed by National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Liza Maza P1,241,189; Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, P1,213,762; Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, P1,197,602; Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, P1,195,428.24; Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, P1,180,902.36; Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Jose Ruperto Martin Andanar, P1,160,602, and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, P1,158,102.
Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Tulfo Teo received P1,145,722.30; Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea P1,144,069.65; Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, P1,136,019.22; Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, P1,118,602; Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, P1,118,602; Education Secretary Leonor Briones, P1,117,723.48: National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Ernesto Pernia, P1,116,102; former Interior and Local Government secretary Ismael Sueno, P1,106,602; former Environment Secretary Regina Lopez, P1,103,191; and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, P1,093,602.
The others were National Security Council chief Hermogenes Esperon, P1,093,602; Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza, P1,093,602; Information and Communications Secretary Rodolfo Salalima, P1,053,873.98; then Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Emerson Carlos, P1,038,491.50, and Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, P1,024,682.63.
Those who earned less than a million in basic salary were Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go, P997,516; Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, P995,670.66; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Guiling Mamondiong, P980,809.92; former Foreign Affairs secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., P971,105.47; Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella, P882,978; Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, P757,586.08; Presidential Legislative Liaison Office chief Adelino Sitoy, P655,844, and Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs Arthur Tabaquero, P134,294.41.
Vice President Leonor Robredo, former head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, received P1,007,897.80 for six months.
