Senators call out PRA head – Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada takes up in the plenary what he described as overbearing attitude displayed by Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) general manager Cynthia Lagdameo Carrion towards his colleagues, telling senators off through text messages to hasten the budget proceedings and prioritize the deliberations on the proposed appropriations of the Department of Tourism (DOT). Carrion received a mouthful from senators by calling out her inappropriate and unacceptable behavior.
Photo from the Office of Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
Solons agree to reform MUP pension system
SENATOR Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, the chairperson of the Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, presided over a public hearing on proposed measures seeking to reform the pension system of military and uniformed personnel (MUP).
Senate Bills (SBs) 284 and 1421, filed by Estrada and Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., respectively, aimed at providing a mechanism that will enable the government to “balance and sustain financial flexibility” while also guaranteeing suitable benefits and remuneration to MUPs.
“We intend to hear the side and sentiments of the economic managers and the MUP agencies, hopefully, find common ground and consensus, and with your expertise and cooperation, come up with a legislation that is fair and acceptable to all,” Estrada said Monday, May 15, 2023.
During the said hearing, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, who was present, also vowed to oppose proposals that will result in the reduction of the pension of military and uniformed personnel for the sake of preventing a “budget disaster.”
Go pointed out during the public hearing of the Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation on the said bills that “there are better ways” to shore up and ensure sufficient revenues in government coffers than slashing the pension of the military and policemen, such as plugging tax leaks and increasing taxes on luxury goods.
“We all want to address the ballooning pension requirement and prevent a looming budget disaster but let’s not do this at the expense of our uniformed personnel… I appeal to our executive agencies and to this committee to study and evaluate the proposals carefully,” Go said Monday, May 15, 2023.
Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa proposed a “military and uniformed personnel (MUP) pension system” that is financially sustainable yet considers the concerns of members of the defense sector.
Dela Rosa urged government finance managers and defense authorities to meet halfway as senators come up with a reformed pension system that would arrest “fiscal collapse” and avoid a “weak” defense system due to “very demoralized” MUPs.
“If there really is no other way and, indeed, we cannot avert fiscal collapse unless we mandate contributions from active personnel, then we could unite on this. What’s important is to make them (MUPs) understand the situation… So let us work together on this,” Dela Rosa, a former police chief, said in mixed English and Filipino.
The majority of the senators expressed the belief that this should be given priority to make sure that the concern of the Defense sector will be addressed accordingly. By CAMILLE P. BALAGTAS & PS JUN M. SARMIENTO
