MANILA, Philippines - Now that the Aquino administration let the cat out of the bag, Malacañang said officials of government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) should take heed.

In a press conference, Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Office of the President will also scrutinize the benefits received by high-ranking officials of other GOCCs.

“In principle, sinabi ni [President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III] hindi kami maglulustay ng pera ng bayan. So siguro, susuriin din ng mga GOCC ang kanilang mga financial situation, the bonuses that they granted to themselves. Kailangan yun because we're supposed to be belt tightening now,” Lacierda said.

Aquino revealed on Monday during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) the alleged excesses received by employees and executives of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).

He claimed MWSS employees are receiving more than P30,000 in monthly salaries on top of additional benefits. He also alleged that members of the Board of Trustees received P2.5 million annually aside from car benefits, technical assistance, loans, etc.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has already asked the Commission on Audit to check if these are in violation of government rules.

Lacierda said the GOCCs should already initiate changes even without a direct mandate from Aquino himself.

“If we are going through the broad strokes of the president, we are supposed be fiscally prudent, and so I think the GOCCs, by themselves, should take a look at their performance, their own fiscal situation and do their appropriate response to the thrust of the president to be fiscally prudent,” he said.

Each GOCC should be able to balance the employees’ needs vis-à-vis a limited budget, he said.

He admitted augmenting the benefits would attract the private sector to working for the government.

If changes should be implemented, however, “it would still be worth working with the government,” he said.