Nograles guarantees double pay for soldiers, police

House appropriations Committee chair and Davao City Representative Karlo Nograles vowed that soldiers and policemen would receive twice the amount of their present salaries. (Photo: Koko Nograles)

House appropriations Committee chair and Davao City Representative Karlo Nograles vowed that soldiers and policemen would receive twice the amount of their present salaries as an acknowledgement for their hard work during the battle in Marawi City.

“Our men and women in uniform proved in the battle of Marawi that they deserve this salary hike. They managed to contain the threat posed by Maute terrorists within the city, neutralize its key leaders, and retake the city,” Nograles said.

“Kudos to our troops for getting the job done. They showed that they are capable of neutralizing the world’s most dreaded terrorists and bandits,” he said, adding that soldiers and policemen deserve all the additional benefits coming their way under the current administration.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno earlier said that Malacañang had endorsed to both Senate and House of Representatives a draft resolution which would make the 100 percent salary increase of police and military personnel official.

Appropriations Committee chair assured the approval of the draft as soon as Congress resumes session on November 13 after a month-long break.

Nograles said that is a proper course of action since the Congress, especially the House of Representatives, possesses the ability to allocate funds for government expenditure.

Nograles added that the House, headed by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, has been keeping a close watch on the resolution for the salary hike, and that they guarantee to make President Rodrigo Duterte’s promise a reality.

The salary hike is slated for implementation beginning January 2018.

Last August 2016, the President announced to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that their salary will be doubled by December.

Duterte also vowed to soldiers not only a salary increase but also a better medical facilities and military equipment.

During plenary debates on the proposed P3.767-trillion national budget for 2018, Nograles assured that the funds for salary increase were available. He added P24.9-billion from the P84.4-billion Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) would be allotted for this purpose.

“The amount is separate from the P61.4 billion that has been allocated for the third tranche of pay hikes for government workers under the Salary Standardization Law (SSL),” Nograles stressed.