Noy increases allowances for cops, soldiers

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino has signed a joint congressional resolution raising the daily subsistence allowance for both members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Aquino signed last March 27 the merged Joint Resolution 2 of the Senate and Joint Resolution 26 of the House of Representatives.

Speaking to reporters, Lacierda yesterday said the daily allowances of police officers and soldiers were raised from P90 to P150, a P1,800 increase per month on their monthly salaries.

It shall be applied retroactively to Jan. 1 this year.

Lacierda said the amount needed to implement the resolution shall be charged against the savings of the Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) for the current year and/or the miscellaneous personnel benefits fund.

“Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act,” he said.

Lacierda said Aquino signed the resolution since the previous amount was no longer adequate to meet the basic needs of Filipino soldiers and uniformed personnel of the DILG.

Personnel from NAMRIA, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Philippine Coast Guard will also get higher daily subsistence allowance.

“The current allowances were no longer adequate to meet basic needs in view of the prices of basic commodities,” read the joint resolution.

The amount needed to raise the subsistence allowances will be derived from the savings of relevant government agencies this year and will be appropriated in the national budget in the succeeding years.

Congress could have approved a higher amount, but the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) allowed only P60 per day during deliberations, according to some lawmakers who endorsed the bill.

In a text message to The STAR, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the increase in subsistence allowance of members of the uniformed services will boost the morale of police officers and soldiers.

“Of course we are happy… the PNP is thankful to the President for his concern for our welfare… This will be a big boost to the morale of the 150,000-strong personnel of the PNP,” read the text message.

Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said soldiers lauded the increase in their subsistence allowance.

“Our soldiers are happy that our meal allowance is finally increased by President Aquino to P150 a day. We have been waiting for this increase for many years now,” he said.

Cabunoc said the additional increase in meal allowance is a big help to soldiers because of the rising cost of basic commodities. –Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star)
with Cecille Suerte Felipe, Jaime Laude