For putting their lives on the line, police receive measly P240 monthly hazard pay

Philippine National Police mass oath-taking. File photo courtesy of PNP on Facebook.

MANILA, Philippines— For putting their lives on the line on a daily basis, the country’s police and military personnel receive a pittance by way of hazard pay and combat pay: P 240 a month, and P1,020 quarterly, respectively. This situation has to change, said members of the Senate on Wednesday.

The Magna Carta for Philippine National Police personnel, a pending bill promulgated by Sen. Sonny Angara, calls for a special hardship pay, as well as other benefits, for men and women in uniform. The bill proposes a hardship allowance in the amount of at least half of their monthly basic salary.

Aside from the hardship allowance, the bill also seeks reimbursement for cost of transportation, and a remote allowance in the amount of half of the basic salary.

“Most government employees are underpaid, but not all face the barrel of a gun every day, and not all face the prospect of going home to their families in a body bag every day as well, but policemen and soldiers do,” Angara told reporters via text message.