HOUSE Committee on Ways and Means Chairman and Albay 2nd District Rep. Jose Maria Clemente "Joey" Salceda said it is the Philippine National Police (PNP) that would benefit the most from the pension reform for military and uniformed personnel (MUP).
"The families of those who lose their lives in the preservation of peace and order can at least expect a pension from a grateful nation," Salceda said during the 122nd Police Service Anniversary of the Police Regional Office-5 in Camp Gen. Simeon Ola in Legazpi City on Friday.
Highlighting the danger that police officers face daily, Salceda cited the death of two policemen while on patrol in Oas, Albay, in July.
"One of two police officers shot dead last July while on patrol in Oas was my personal security officer, PCMS. Joseph Ostonal. The other was PCpl. Jeffrey Refereza. Hopefully, we could come up with some way to make at least the eligibility for at least some of these benefits retroactive," Salceda said, noting he is open to making the retirement benefit retroactive as the PNP remains a "young force."
He added that the PNP will gain the most from the proposed three percent guaranteed annual salary hike for 10 years under the proposed pension reform.
"Apart from fully retaining the structure of the existing pension system for active and retired personnel, the MUP Pension Reform Act also guarantees a 3 percent annual increase in salary over the next 10 years. We estimate that as much as 47.6 percent of the total benefits from the salary increase will accrue to members of the PNP," Salceda said.
"The MUP Pension Reform Act was an assignment given to me by President Marcos and the House leadership, headed by Speaker [Ferdinand Martin] Romualdez. We successfully defended a reform that was acceptable to all major stakeholders," he added.
The bill, which passed in the House of Representatives on September 26, is now pending discussions in the Senate.