Benefits bills for soldiers, cops pushed as urgent measures
Aformer soldier- turned- partylist lawmaker is urging President Aquino to certify as urgent measures pending in Congress that seek to provide wide-ranging benefits to all uniformed personnel, especially those who have died in the line of duty.
MAGDALO partylist Rep. Francisco Acedillo made the call as the families of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) operatives continuously appealed for justice for their loved ones who were killed during a bloody clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25.
"I am hopeful that President Aquino's agenda reinforces its support to the welfare of soldiers, policemen, and other uniformed personnel by giving Congress the go-signal to pass pending bills on additional quarters allowance, death, and disability benefits, additional scholarships for children of those who died or disabled in the line of duty and expand its on-base and off-base housing programs," he said in an interview
"This is to honor the sacrifice of all uniformed personnel - both living and especially those who have died - in the line of duty in service to God, country and people," he explained.
Acedillo is the principal author of the joint resolution seeking to increase the subsistence allowance of military and police personnel from R90 to R150 per day or an additional R1,800 per month.
The reconciled version of the resolution by both houses of Congress is awaiting President Aquino's signature. Acedillo expressed hope that the measure, which seeks to promote professionalism in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and other secu- rity agencies would be signed into law by the President "anytime soon."
He explained that the measure, which was approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives "will be retroactive to January 1, 2015."
Acedillo said once the joint resolution is signed by the President, the members of the PNP, AFP, Philippine Coast Guard ( PCG) and other enforcement agencies shall receive an additional R1,800 per month.
Benefitting from the resolution are all officers, enlisted personnel, candidate soldiers, probationary second lieutenants, cadets and civilian active auxiliaries of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); commissioned and non-commissioned personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP); cadets of the Philippine National Police Academy ( PNPA); Philippine Coast Guard ( PCG) and the PCG's candidate Coast Guard men; and the uniformed personnel of the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The resolution "affirms the policy of the State to promote professionalism in the ranks of the AFP, PCG, PNP, BFP, BJMP, PNPA and the uniformed personnel of the NAMRIA; and to recognize their vital role in nation-building by providing adequate remuneration and benefits to the members."
It said the amount necessary for the initial implementation shall be charged against the savings of the concerned agencies for the current year and/or the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund ( MPBF). Thereafter, the necessary amount for the continued implementation of the measure shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA), the resolution provides.
The House of Representatives approved the joint resolution on Decem- ber 15, 2014 before Congress adjourned for a month-long Christmas break.
Among the authors of the resolution are Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations; MAGDALO partylist Rep. Gary Alejano, Guimaras Rep. Joaquin Carlos Rahman Nava, Baguio Rep. Nicasio Aliping Jr., Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon and Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Dulce Ann Hofer