The Senate committees on finance and national defense and security have approved a joint resolution seeking to increase the combat duty pay of all officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Under Senate Joint Resolution Number 8, the combat duty pay of officers and enlisted personnel of the AFP shall be increased depending on the degree of their exposure to danger:
25 percent of base pay of private/apprentice seaman (E-1) - to be granted to those who are assigned in tactical brigades and its combat support complements (or their equivalent) who are engaged in the conduct of combat and/or internal security operations; 15 percent of base pay of private/apprentice seaman (E-1) - to be granted to those who are assigned in division headquarters and its combat support and combat service support complements (or their equivalent) who are engaged in combat operations and/or internal security operations and to personnel providing security to the President; and 5 percent of base pay of private/apprentice seaman (E-1) - to be granted to those who are assigned in unified command headquarters and its support complements (or their equivalent) who are engaged in combat operations and/or internal security operations. "The current national security situation necessitates a pro-active approach while at the same time looking after the morale and welfare of those tasked with the protection of our people and our institutions," the resolution said. The resolution stipulates that the funds needed for the increase this year shall be charged to the savings of the Department of National Defense and to the General Appropriations Act for the succeeding years. According to the resolution, soldiers in the AFP only receive P240 in combat duty day monthy. "It is hardly an incentive to soldiers who meet with numerous perils at the risk of life and limb in the performance of their task," it said. It likewise said that the last combat pay increase took effect 22 years ago through Executive Order No.1 017 issued on March 22, 1985. The joint resolution was authored by Senate Pro Tempore Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada and Senators Loren Legarda, Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and Antonio Trillanes IV, himself a former Navy officer. The resolution was created by Drilon and Escudero, heads of the Senate committees on finance and national defense and security, using Estrada and Trillanes' joint resolution number 1; Legarda's Senate bill 2355; and Revilla's Senatte bill 2402. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMANews.TV 
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