Each AFP personnel to donate a percentage of base pay for med supplies, equipment -Arevalo

As full support to the government and to every Filipino's fight against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said all of its personnel would donate a percentage of their base pay for the procurement of medical supplies and equipment. 

"Each regular member of the AFP — from the highest ranking General to the lowest ranking personnel — will donate an amount based from a certain percentage deduction from their respective base pays for the month of May," AFP spokesman Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo said in a statement.

"Since their salaries for the month of April are already out for payment, the donation—deductible from their base pays for the month of May— will be available by the 3rd week of April," he added. 

Arevalo said the percent deduction would be equitable depending on the rank. He noted that AFP chief General Felimon Santos Jr. would provide the biggest contribution of P10,484 while the lowest ranking soldier who is a private, airman, and apprentice seaman will donate P100. 

The spokesman said the AFP is expecting to collect a total of P16,953,490.04 which will be handed to the Office of Civil Defense. 

Santos, meanwhile, is hopeful that the amount would help in acquiring additional resources in preventing the spread of the disease. 

"Through this humble gesture of AFP solidarity and unwavering support to the government it is sworn to protect and defend, we aim to share the burden in the nation’s fight against this contagion," Santos said. 

"Our heart goes out to our people. Seeing and feeling their hardships daily from the checkpoints, quarantine centers, and relief distribution sites we man, we commit to them our resolute efforts to win over this pandemic; we are one with them in keeping the faith that together we will hurdle this test of the Filipino’s indomitable spirit," he added. —KG, GMA News