Trillanes lauded the proposed increased of combat duty pay of AFP soldiers

By Jason de Asis

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, November 29, 2010-Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV lauded the endorsement of the Senate committee to national defense and security to the proposed increase of the combat duty pay of the commissioned officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Senator Chiz Escudero, chair of the national defense and security and Senate Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada acted swiftly on the measure that Trillanes has been pushing since 2007 when he became a senator.

Trillanes and Estrada are co-authors of the proposed legislation seeking to increase by 25 percent the base combat pay of soldiers, which has been pegged to P240 per month since 1985.

Trillanes expressed his gratitude and said that this is the right time to upgrade soldier allowances as a way of recognizing the vital role of military personnel that play to serve and to protect the people and the state.

He said that soldiers receive measly salaries, inadequate allowances and insufficient benefits, and are among the lowest paid in the government, explaining that the present combat duty pay can hardly serve as an incentive for soldiers who are subjected to numerous risks and perils when they put their lives on the line to protect the people, the institutions and the democratic way of life.

Officers and enlisted personnel shall receive a minimum of five percent to a maximum of 25 percent under Committee Report No. 8 which has been submitted for Senate approval and a total of P2.5 billion is needed to cover the combat duty pay increase of some 88,075 soldiers eligible for this allowance once it was approved.

The approval of the proposed legislation is also pushing the Senate finance committee chaired by Senator Franklin Drilon. (Jason de Asis)