House panel endorses pay hike for military

The House defense and security committee has endorsed a consolidated bill seeking an increase in the salaries of military personnel, from the lowly soldiers to the highest-ranking general.

The bill is a consolidation of three measures separately authored by Reps. Juan Miguel Zubiri of Bukidnon, Mark Jimenez of Manila and Jose Solis of Sorsogon.

"Our soldiers badly need a salary increase because they are among the lowest-paid public servants in the country," Zubiri said.

He said a soldier receives a basic monthly pay of P4,600, the lowest salary in the bureaucracy.

"While he gets the salary of a janitor or a helper, we expect a lot from him. We expect him to defend our freedoms and our country," Zubiri added.

Jimenez said before the government modernizes the weaponry and equipment of its military, it should first upgrade the salaries of its soldiers.

"It would be difficult for a hungry soldier to fight, even if he has a modern weapon and high-tech gadgetry," he said.

Under the bill endorsed by the defense committee, the basic pay of a candidate soldier and a private would be increased to P9,939 or salary grade 10 in the bureaucracy’s pay scales.

That would be nearly double the salary he is getting at present. The rate does not include allowances.

The chief of staff, who is the highest-ranking general, would get P28,875 (salary grade 30), about P9,000 more than he is currently receiving.

The other proposed salary rates are P25,333 for a lieutenant general, P24,359 for a major general, P23,422 for a brigadier general, P22,521 for a colonel, P21,655 for a lieutenant colonel, P20,823 for a major;

P20,020 for a captain, P19,251 for a first lieutenant, P18,510 for a second lieutenant, P16,792 for a cadet, P15,841 for a chief master sergeant, P14,944 for a senior master sergeant, P14,098 for a master sergeant. – Jess Diaz