Gov't to comply with Duterte's order to increase financial benefits for servicemen

Government agencies will comply with President Rodrigo Duterte's order to increase financial benefits for military personnel in the aftermath of the C-130 plane crash in Sulu which left around 49 soldiers dead, the Palace said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the Bases Conversion and Development (BCDA) has the mandate to address the President's concern.

"We have an agency headed by Secretary [Vince] Dizon. The mandate, precisely, is to make full utilization of all our military assets to improve the benefits granted to our soldiers," Roque said.

Dizon, for his part, said government agencies are already looking at options.

"DOF is already on this, and there is a technical working group studying for a long-term solution," Dizon added.

As it is, retired serviceman receives a monthly person equivalent to one rank higher than his or her rank during his or her retirement.

A bill seeking military pension reform authored by Albay representative Joey Salceda, which provides for a pension increase based on Cost-of-Living Adjustment, had been approved by the Salceda-led House Ways and Means panel.

The proposed Bayanihan 3 law also allots P54.6 billion for pension and gratuity funds (PGF) for retired military and uniformed personnel.

These measures, however, are yet to gain enough support for their passage into law. — DVM, GMA News