The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) disclosed yesterday that soldiers and policemen could soon receive up to P5,000 across-the-board increase for combat operations.
Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said based on Executive Order No. 03, approved by President Rodrigo Duterte and signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Sept. 26, the soldiers and policemen would get a fixed P3,000 monthly combat duty pay plus P300 per day "combat incentive" pay for those directly assigned in operations against insurgents, terrorists and lawless elements.
The combat incentive pay is subject to the following conditions: the operation must be for a specific mission that is duly covered by an operations order (OPORD) or fragmentary order (FRAG-O) for the military or mission order for the police; the personnel involved in combat must be in the published task organization of the AFP OPORD/FRAG-O or the PNP mission order; and total for each individual shall not exceed P3,000.
According to the EO, there is an urgent need to increase the said benefits to improve the living conditions of the men in uniform who are engaged in combating threats to national security and public peace and order.
The increase are retroactive to Sept. 1 and will be given to all officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Diokno confirmed to The STAR that the increase are across the board regardless of the rank and tax free. He also admitted that the increase would cost the government a total of P12 billion for the first found months of implementation from September to December of this year.
He also added that, next year, another P39 billion would be set aside for the same incentive on top of the salary increase proposed in the 2017 budget still undergoing scrutiny in Congress.
Duterte often told AFP and PNP members to check their pay slips because the increase in their take home pay would increase.
The President wanted to double their salaries by yearned but the DBM said it was not viable as the government was using a budget prepared by the previous administration.
Members of the military used to be P500 per month for combat duty while the policemen receive P340 monthly. The soldiers' combat incentive pay was P150 per day not exceeding P1,500 per OPORD or FRAG-O.
The initial funding will come from the President's Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund while the succeeding funds for the incentives will be included in the specific budget of the PNP and AFP through the General Appropriations ACT.
Both the PNP and AFP will be required to submit a list of rosters, which will be validated and made basis for funding the succeeding years.
Source: Philippine Star
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