RAMOS, Tarlac — Vice Mayor Edgardo “GBong” Suñiga Jr. marked a full year of donating his entire government salary to local constituents on July 11, 2026. The milestone was highlighted during the 12th consecutive monthly payout of his “Sahod Ko Para Sa Inyo” program held at the Ramos Municipal Hall.
A total of P1.3 million in financial aid distributed directly to the community since Suñiga assumed office a year ago.
In an interview with Tarlakenyo, Suñiga revealed that the monthly aid distributed often exceeds his net monthly compensation of P78,000. With monthly payouts ranging from P79,000 to over P100,000, he regularly shells out extra from his own pocket, supported by contributions from his siblings, to reach more residents in need.
“Noong private citizen pa ako, nakita ko na yung pangangailangang i-address, lalo na sa grassroots. There is still hope. Pwede pa tayong magkaroon ng gobyernong transparent, gobyernong para sa tao. Hindi pa huli ang lahat,” Suñiga said.
The salary-funded program has provided direct aid to over 1,600 residents of the municipality, covering six welfare categories: Educational, Senior Citizen, Medical, Burial, Person with Disabilities (PWD), and Single Parent assistance.
“Bagama’t hindi po ito ang permanenteng solusyon sa ating kahirapan, sana po makatulong at maibsan ang ating agarang pangangailangan,” Suñiga added.
Among the beneficiaries are 700 senior citizens, 280 students receiving educational support, 200 medical patients, and 140 families given burial aid.
“Gagamitin ko po ‘yung pera na matatanggap ko kapag nagka-emergency, mga project, mga gagastusin po sa school,” a student recipient shared.
“Yung ginagawa niya, para sa akin is extraordinary kasi po siya pa lang po ata yung public official o vice mayor na ibinibigay po yung buong sahod niya sa mga students, PWD, at para sa mga seniors,” she added.
When asked how he sustains his own family’s needs while giving up his salary, Suñiga shared that his personal expenses and family needs are covered by his private businesses. This setup allows him to focus fully on public service without relying on his government compensation.
A son of a farmer and a laundress who finished his studies through the support of relatives, Suñiga worked abroad for 17 years before returning home as an entrepreneur and civil engineer. He also previously made local headlines for building a modern tiny treehouse around an acacia tree in Ramos.
Aside from his salary-funded program, his office is currently drafting a Barangay Transparency Ordinance to allow citizens to track local project spending and operations in real-time like a blockchain.
The Vice Mayor pledged that the monthly payouts will continue until his term in office ends.
