Lawmaker wants uniformed personnel pay standardized

MANILA -- The chairman of the House committee on national defense and security proposed to standardize the base pay, allowances and other benefits of all uniformed personnel rendering government service.

In House Bill 6536, Muntinlupa City Representative Rodolfo Biazon pointed out that while uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) receive smaller pay and allowances, their counterparts in other government offices receive "very much less."

"If we are exposed to the same dangers and put our lives in jeopardy while serving this country, then we should be compensated in the same manner by the State," Biazon said.

Under the measure, law enforcement uniformed personnel shall refer to members of the civil service who are armed and primarily involved in the enforcement of laws in the government.

It shall pertain to all uniformed personnel of the AFP, PNP, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), Bureau of Immigration (BI), and the Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey (BCGS).

Biazon, a former AFP chief, said that the inequality in compensation must be addressed to avoid demoralization in the ranks.

"The time has come for us to correct his inequality. We must address this to boost the morale and welfare of the uniformed personnel who continue to perform their duties and responsibilities with dedication and sacrifice despite their low salaries, as compared to their counterparts," he added.

Upon enactment into law, the base pay, allowances, and other collateral benefits of all uniformed personnel shall be standardized, taking into account the similarity in the nature of the responsibilities pertaining to, and the qualifications of their positions.

The concerned government agencies shall establish a standard remuneration scheme based on a comparative table of organization. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)