Additional combat duty pay eyed for uniformed forces

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 7, 2023): Additional combat duty pay eyed for uniformed forces (By Leonel Abasola)

(Courtesy of Philippine Army)

MANILA – As the nation’s protectors who preserve peace and harmony and ward off threats, it is only fitting that members of the military, police and coast guard be provided with adequate compensation and substantial benefits.

Under Senate Bill 1816 or the Combat Incentives Act filed by Senator Raffy Tulfo, the Combat Duty Pay (CDP) will be fixed at PHP5,000.00 per month for members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

On the other hand, the Combat Incentive Pay (CIP) will be PHP1,000 per day provided that the operation to which the enlisted personnel or officer is deployed must be for a specific combat mission that is duly covered by an Operations Order or Fragmentary Order for the AFP or a Mission Order for the PNP; the personnel involved in combat must be in the published task organization of the AFP Operations Order or Fragmentary Order or the PNP Mission Order; and the total additional CIP for each qualified individual shall not exceed 50 percent of the base salary pay per month.

The CIP shall be over and above the CDP and will be tax-exempt.

Combat duty includes field operations involving armed hostilities against insurgents or dissidents, outlaws, and terrorists; operations against armed criminals such as hostage rescue operations, anti-hijacking operations, hot pursuit operations, and other similar armed confrontations; planned activities undertaken independently or in coordination with civilian entities; activities designed to preserve internal security against insurgents, secessionists, and terrorists, including intelligence; providing security to the President and family; and seaborne or mobile patrols within coastal areas conducted by PCG uniformed personnel who are in actual operation against elements of maritime threats.

Under Executive Order 201 in 2016 signed by former president Rodrigo Duterte, all uniformed personnel were given a fixed rate of PHP3,000 CDP and daily CIP of PHP300.

“Our soldiers and police personnel receive measly salaries, inadequate allowances and insufficient benefits, compared to the circumstantial stressors and challenges they face. Some of these are societal isolation, the sleep deprivation that comes with long shifts, and continued exposure to harmful human elements,” read the bill’s explanatory note.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194577