AFP, PNP assured of salary hikes within 6 years

MANILA, Philippines - A lawmaker has assured members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police that President Duterte’s promise to double their salaries would be implemented within the next six years.

 Rep. Joey Salceda, vice chairman of the House committee on ways and means and the appropriations committee, said over the weekend that he would help formulate the programs of AFP and PNP to fulfill Duterte’s vow to double the salaries of uniformed personnel.

 Salceda, former chief of the National Economic and Development Authority, said the salary increases of PNP and AFP men would cost the government about P163 billion – or roughly P18,000 for each.

 Currently, the PNP’s salary budgets stand at P95 billion, excluding the P25 billion in pensions of retired members. The AFP salary budget is at P68 billion and P43 billion in pensions.

Salceda, who also sits as vice chair of the local government and economic affairs committees, said the House leadership under Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has been “eyeing some areas” where the government can source the funds for purposes of increasing the salaries of AFP and PNP members.

“We are focusing on a roadmap to enhance the welfare of our uniformed personnel as well as attain long term organizational and service reforms to strengthen law enforcement and security of the country,” he said.

 Meanwhile, the Bicol Regional Advisory Council on PNP Transformation and Development has elected Salceda as its chairman, replacing Vice President Leni Robredo, who headed the body when she was Camarines Sur congresswoman.