Each PMA graduate costs P2.1-M — Recto

The Filipino taxpayer spends P2.128 million to produce one Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduate, the same amount he spends to put 55 students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) through a four-year course.

And this, said Sen. Ralph Recto, is aside from the salaries and allowances the taxpayer pays for a PMA cadet to learn to serve his country.

"Because PMA education is on an earn-while-you-learn basis, almost P1 million of the P2.128 million will be in salaries and allowances of a cadet," he said.

He said next year, when the military pay scale will be fully implemented, a cadet will receive a monthly base pay of P14,538, plus P1,800 subsistence allowance, P400 clothing allowance and P120 in cost of living allowance.

He said by the time a cadet graduates, he has already earned P957,156.

"He had earned his first million before taking a real job," he stressed.

Recto said in addition to his base pay and allowances, a cadet is given P42,000 upon entering the academy for his new wardrobe.

He arrived at the price tag of PMA education by dividing the academy’s budget of P538.75 million this year with the cadet enrollment of 1,013 times four years.

In contrast, Recto said PUP, the second largest state university in terms of enrollment with 53,777, has a budget of P518.7 million.

"53,777 students make do with an amount smaller than what is lavished on 1,000 cadets," he said.