Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) in the government are a step closer to enjoying an increase in their base pay after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved on third and final reading House Joint Resolution 18.
The resolution is authored by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (1st District, Davao del Norte), Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas (1st District, Ilocos Norte), Minority Leader Danilo Suarez (3rd District, Quezon), and Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles (1st District, Davao City).
The measure provides for a modified Base Pay Schedule that shall apply to all military personnel under the Department of National Defense (DND) and uniformed personnel under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA). It shall be implemented in two years.
Beginning January 1, 2018, a Private under the DND, and those of equivalent rank under DILG, PCG, and NAMRIA, will see a monthly base pay of P 29,668. Moving up the scale, a Captain under the DND—the equivalent of a Senior Inspector under DILG and Lieutenant Senior Grade under PCG and NAMRIA—will earn P 49,801. Moreover, a General under the DND and a Director General under the DILG will receive P121,143 in monthly base pay.
By January 1, 2019, a Captain under DND and those of equivalent rank in the other government agencies will receive an increased monthly base pay of P 56,582. The monthly base pay of DND General and DILG Director General will likewise climb to P 149,785.
The hazard pay of MUP shall be fixed at P 540 per month.
Under JR 18, the amounts necessary to carry out the base pay increase in the coming financial year of 2018 shall be sourced from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund and other available Funds. The funding requirements for the succeeding years shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
The increase in wages comes in response to the need to adjust the compensation package of MUP and make it more commensurate to the role of MUP in maintaining national security and peace and order. It also takes into consideration the exposure of MUP to high-risk environments in the performance of their duties.
The measure is in line with JR 4, which stipulates the base pay of MUP shall take into account prevailing economic realities and create professionalism, exemplary performance, and commitment to service. JR 4 further mandates the updating of the policies on and levels of allowances, benefits, and incentives applicable to all government personnel.
Meanwhile, pending the review of the current MUP pension system, the indexation of the pension of retired MUP with the base pay of those in active service shall be suspended with respect to the base increase authorized in the joint resolution. The indexation of such pension will remain to be based on rates of the base pay schedule provided under JR 4.