NBI requests House panel to increase agents' hazard pay

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag on Monday asked a House committee to increase the hazard pay for its agents to P15,000.

During a budget hearing before the House Committee on Appropriations, Matibag said the agents are currently only receiving a hazard pay of P4,000.

“We’re requesting, at least, if we can be leveled with other law enforcement, which is probably the reasonable amount, will be P15,000 monthly for them to operate properly,” Matibag said.

Matibag said NBI agents have been transferred from one province to another while some operations run for 24 hours.

“Records will reveal that we have so many operations and apprehensions on [Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children] and other crimes, cybercrimes also, which we have been addressing,” he said.

“So I’m respectfully requesting that the hazard pay of our agents from P4,000 be increased to P15,000 at least,” he added.

Personally, Cagayan De Oro City Representative Rufus Rodriguez said he approved of the request.

Under the National Expenditure Program for 2027, the Department of Justice and its attached agencies have a proposed budget of P46.435 billion.

Meanwhile, the NBI’s budget was reduced from P3.7 billion in 2026 to P2.9 billion. —LDF, GMA News