Salary increase for soldiers, policemen to cost gov't an additional P63.4B

The base pay increase of police officers and military personnel will cost the government an additional P63.4 billion, the Department of Budget and Management said on Tuesday.

"The increase in the compensation of the military and uniformed personnel (MUP) will be funded from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF), and from any available allotment in the respective budgets of the agencies concerned," it said.

Malacañang has endorsed a draft resolution doubling the salaries of select soldiers and cops next year, the DBM said.

"The draft resolution prepared by the Department of Budget and Management was concurred with by the Office of the President last September 20, 2017," the department said in an emailed statement.

The draft Congress Joint Resolution authorizes compensation adjustments for military and uniformed personnel (MUP).

Once the draft resolution is signed by both chambers of the Congress, the base pay of the following personnel is effectively doubled:

• Police Officer 1, Philippine National Police (PNP)

• Private, Department of National Defense (DND)

• Equivalent ranks in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA)

"A PO1 will enjoy a 100-percent increase in monthly base pay from the current P14,834 to P29,668," the DBM said.

"Overall, the adjustments will result in a 58.7-percent average increase in base pay for all MUP ranks effective January 1, 2018," it added.

In August 2016, President Rodrigo R. Duterte promised to double the salaries of soldiers and policemen. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS, GMA News