JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla emerged as highest-paid Cabinet member of President Ferdinand Marcos in 2023 based on the Report on Salaries and Allowances (ROSA) released by the Commission on Audit on Thursday
The 2023 ROSA showed that Remulla earned a total of P7.07 million that year. This was an increase of P6.6 million or 1,283 percent from the P511,308.00 he received in 2022.
The second top-earner in the Cabinet was Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr. who received P6.98 million. Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. was third-ranked with P6 million, followed by Department of Public Works and Highways chief Manuel Bonoan with P5 million.
Presidential Assistant 2 Leo Magno, who is also of Secretary rank, ranked fifth with P4.96 million.
Rounding up the top 10 highest cabinet members were:
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma with P4.93 million
Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla with P4.758 million
Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan Uy with P4.750 million
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo with P4.7 million and
Social Welfare and Development chief Rex Gatchalian with P4.68 million.
Finance chief Benjamin Diokno barely missed the top 10 list with P4.678 million to place 11th, followed by Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Acuzar with P4.671 million.
Other Cabinet members who earned over P4 million in a year include:
Budget and Management chief Amenah Pangandaman with P4.66 million
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista with P4.648 million
Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III with P4.646 million
Secretary Cheloy Garafil of the Presidential Communications Office with P4.63 million
Secretary/ Presidential Adviser on Legislative Affairs Mark Mendoza of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office with P4.57 million
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco with P4.56 million
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Loyzaga with P4.51 million
Secretary Arsenio Balisacan of the National Economic and Development Authority with P4.5 million
Secretary Guiling Mamondiong of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos with P4.48 million
Interior and Local Government chief Benjamin Abalos, Jr. with P4.45 million
Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual with P4.39 million and
Secretary Lope Santos III of the National Anti-Poverty Commission with P4.18 million.
Secretary Hans Cacdac of the Department of Migrant Workers, who was only appointed full Secretary last April 25 following the death of former DMW chief Susan Ople, earned P3.44 million.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. who was appointed as Defense chief following a short stint by his predecessor Carlito Galvez, Jr., recorded P2.63 million in salary and allowances.
Education Secretary Sara Duterte, who is also the Vice President, only recorded P558,000 in salaries and allowances.
Agriculture chief Francisco Tiu Laurel, who was only named to his post in November 2023, ranked the lowest paid among Cabinet members with P418,000.
