ONLY new entrants in the country’s military and uniformed services will have pension deductions in their monthly pay, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada said.

Estrada’s Committee on National Defense and Security included this amendment in the substitute measure proposing reforms in the military and uniformed personnel (MUP) pension system to prevent a fiscal collapse in the coming years.

“This means that whatever is being enjoyed by the current pensioners, and whatever is expected by those currently in active service, will still be enjoyed and received by them. In fact, for some of them, the retirement pay will be higher by five percentage points.

“Hindi po gagalawin, hindi po babaguhin, at hindi po papakialaman ng isinusulong nating panukalang batas ang pensyon ng mga pensyonadong retirado. Wala rin pong magiging pagbaba sa inaasahang pensyon ng kasalukuyang mga nasa serbisyo,” the senator explained.

Estrada guaranteed a more sustainable and secure pension regime under the proposed Senate version of the bill, which will see the creation of separate trust funds for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and another for those in the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), and commissioned officers in the National Mapping and Resources Information Authority (NAMRIA).

The trust fund will be managed by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and overseen by the trust fund committees of the military and uniformed services.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Camille P. Balagtas