President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Friday his
administration is drafting a pension bill seeking to ensure the continuous flow
of funds for the benefits of the soldiers.
During the change of command of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP), the President announced that the Departments of Budget and
Management (DBM), Finance (DOF), National Defense (DND) and Interior and Local
Government (DILG) are now preparing the draft of the bill.
”They are working closely to form a draft pension bill that
will provide guidelines to make sure that your benefits will be funded
continuously,” President Aquino said in his speech at the Tejeros Hall at Camp
Aguinaldo.
”In this way, we can increase your number which for a very
long time has not been changed even though our population has doubled already,”
he added.
President Aquino made the announcement as he witnessed the
assumption of Lt. Gen. Hernando Delfin Carmelo A. Iriberri as the 46th Chief of
Staff of the 120,000-strong AFP.
Iriberri replaced outgoing AFP Chief Gen. Gregorio Pio P.
Catapang Jr. who will reach the retirement age of 56 on Saturday.
The President said his administration will continue to
address the problem of the military with the AFP modernization program.
”Aside from having modern military equipments, we are also
working on giving you decent housing,” the President said.
President Aquino said he already signed the additional
subsistence allowance for the soldiers and the giving out of the Productivity
Enhancement Incentive (PEI) to all the government employees, including
soldiers.
”It is clear that under daang matuwid (straight path), we
will give to you what you deserve for giving your life in times of calamities,
threats of terrorism, contagious diseases and against those who want to get our
territory,” the President said.
The President thanked the AFP leadership and the soldiers
for their sincerity which became evident in their performance of duties.
”There’s no doubt: For the past five years, the cooperation
between the AFP and the Filipino people became stronger,” he said.
President Aquino challenged the new AFP chief of staff to
continue the good deeds that his predecessors, including Catapang, have given
to the Filipino people.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=781463
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