BSP's Diokno still highest paid govt official, income doubles to ₱41.8M in 2021

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 20) — Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Ben Diokno continued to top the list of highest paid government officials, with his total income more than double in 2021 compared to the previous year.

He received ₱41.81 million in 2021 based on the Commission on Audit's (COA) Report on Salaries and Allowance (ROSA) released on June 17. In 2020, he also topped the list with a reported total income of ₱19.79 million.

BSP Monetary Board Members Victor Tolentino and Felipe Medalla — who is set to succeed Diokno as BSP chief in the Marcos administration — rounded up the Top 3 with salaries and allowances of ₱23.29 million and ₱21.83 million, respectively.

Other executives from the Central Bank, the Government Owned and Controlled Corporation whose main responsibility is to formulate and implement policy in the areas of money, banking and credit with the primary objective of preserving price stability, dominated the Top 10.

The BSP charter states the salary of the Governor and the members of the Monetary Board from the private sector shall be fixed by the President "at a sum commensurate to the importance and responsibility attached to the position."

Solicitor General Jose Calida's ranking significantly dropped as BSP officials' income increased. From the second spot in 2020, he is now in the 12th spot with an income of ₱16.59 million, with his reported earnings going up less than a million pesos.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo is the highest paid official in the legislative branch after receiving ₱13.21 million in salaries and allowances in 2021. He is in the 15th spot, while Associate Justices Estela Perlas Bernabe and Ricardo Rosario are in the 17th and 18th spot.

The ROSA is an 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.

This aims to “complement the continuing thrust of the government for transparency and accountability” and to summarize total payments and benefits officials received, COA said.