THE Philippine National Police (PNP) will prioritize the implementation of the 100-percent salary increase for some 76,000 men with the rank of Police Officer (PO) 1 while the salary hike of those with higher ranks will be given in tranches, a police official said Thursday, January 11.
Chief Superintendent Joselito Vera Cruz, PNP Directorate for Comptrollership executive officer, said the PO1’s base pay of P14,834 will be doubled starting January while all other ranks will receive an average increase of 58.70 percent.
“Apparrently, hindi kaya ng budget natin, ‘yung double the salary sa lahat ng ranks but as you can see, ‘yung lowest ranking police officers ang ating binigyan ng priority sa increase ng kanilang base pay (We don't have the budget to double the salary of all officers so we're giving priority to the lowest ranking officers),” he said.
“‘Yung pinag-uusapan natin ngayon ay for fiscal year 2018, for 2019 there will be another adjustment in base pay (This is for fiscal year 2018. There will be another adjustment in the base pay in 2019). Kapag tinignan mo, ni-rationalize nila (lawmakers). Siguro sa wisdom ng members of Congress kaya nila ginawa ‘yung ganung adjustments,” he added.
On Tuesday, Malacañang released the approved Joint Resolution 1 which doubles the salaries of military, police and other uniformed personnel effective January 1, 2018.
Vera Cruz said that with the adjustment, the allowances of the uniformed personnel such as the longevity pay, flying pay, sea duty pay, instructor’s duty, and other benefits upon retirement will also increase while their hazard pay will be fixed at P540 monthly each.
He also said that with the newly passed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (Train), the take home pay of all police officers will increase as their personal income taxes decrease.
Vera Cruz noted that even those officials with ongoing administrative cases will receive the salary hike unless they are proven guilty and removed from the service.
With the increase in their take home pay, the official said they are optimistic that police officers would think twice in getting involved in illegal transactions as well as in applying for loans and being victimized by loan sharks.
“Siyempre mas lalaki ang kanilang net take home pay so siguro mase-settle na nila mga utang nila (With a bigger take home pay, they should be able to settle their debts) and I believe this is the time for them to start their savings. Kasi dapat ang mentalidad ng pulis is income minus savings equals expenses, hindi ba. Dapat meron savings,” said Vera Cruz.
“Siguro ‘yung mga pulis natin ngayon na nagbabalak gumawa ng mga kalokohan at mga hindi magandang gawa, mag iisip na sila ngayon, hindi lang twice, thrice maiisip nila ‘yung mawawala sa kanila once na mawala sila sa serbisyo kasi ang hirap maghanap ng trabaho na magpapasweldo sa iyo ng almost P30,000 base pay," he added.
(Policemen would now think twice about getting involved in illegal activities because they would risk losing their jobs. It's hard to find a job that pays almost P30,000 a month.)
He said this may also encourage aspiring policemen to apply to the PNP.
“Sa tingin ko mas marami kasi medyo malaki na ‘yung base pay and sa PNP huwag ka lang gagawa ng kalokohan masasabi natin meron kaming security of tenure so we will be assured na meron kaming trabaho up to 56 years old basta huwag ka lang gagawa ng kalokohan para hindi ka matanggal sa serbisyo,” he said.
(I think there will be more applications. As long as you don't do anything illegal, you're assured of a job until you reach the age of 56.)
According to PNP spokesperson Dionardo Carlos, the PNP is in need of 21,000 new police officers.
He said the PNP currently has 182,000 uniformed and 11,000 civilian personnel. (SunStar Philippines)