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Aquino raises soldiers' combat pay


(Updated 3:25 p.m.) President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on Tuesday announced that he has signed an executive order that more than doubles the combat pay for military personnel. In his speech at the Armed Forces of the Philippines' 75th anniversary at Camp Aguinaldo, Aquino said the soldiers' combat pay will amount to P500 monthly starting January next year as stated in Executive Order No. 15, which he signed on December 20. This means an amount of P260 will be added to the current combat pay of P240, said Aquino, the commander in chief of the military and police. Aquino said the increase is part of the government's efforts to boost benefits in the military. "Maaaring kakarampot na halaga lamang po ito kung itutumbas sa inyong kabayanihan, ngunit kung may paraan naman po ang pamahalaan para dagdagan ang tinatanggap ninyo kada kinsenas, hindi po namin ito ipagdadamot sa inyo," Aquino sad. (This may be a small amount compared to your heroism, but if there is a way for the government to increase what you receive every 15th of the month, we will not deprive you of that.) EO No. 15 amends former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's EO No. 658 by raising the monthly combat allowance under the following conditions:
  • "There must be a specific combat mission that is duly covered by an Operations Order or a Fragmentary Order verified by the concerned Chief of Command and duly approved by the AFP Chief of Staff;
  • Only those included in the roster of enlisted uniformed personnel are entitled hereto." EO No. 15, however, also removed the provision in EO 658 which provides for an additional P150 combat allowance per day for military members "actually engaged in combat operation." EO No. 15 said the P150 additional daily allowance was removed "so that funding is actually provided for the grant of combat allowance to members of the AFP who are involved in combat operations." The increase in monthly combat pay will be initially sourced from the personal services savings of the AFP during fiscal year 2011 and fiscal year 2011 as determined by the AFP, according to EO No. 15.
    Aquino's directive increasing monthly combat pay came a little over a month after the Senate committees on finance and national defense and security passed Senate Joint Resolution No. 8 increasing soldiers' combat pay. According to the resolution, the said allowance was last increased 22 years ago through Executive Order No.1 017 issued on March 22, 1985. P500, enough or not enough? Reached for comments, military spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Mabanta said the additional monthly combat pay could really be of big help to all the soldiers deployed in the field. "Even if this is only a mere 260, that’s a lot. Certainly if you will spend that in the metropolis it is not that big but if you will spend it in the countryside, in the field or in the hardest-hit areas, that's substantial. That amount is really big," Mabanta said. Mabanta said benifitting from the combat pay increase are between 60 percent or 70 percent of all Philippine soldiers, who are sent to the field. But former Marine Col. Ariel Querubin has some reservations on the matter. "Pero hindi pa rin sapat ang P500 na combat pay. Higit pa doon ang katumbas ng panganib na kinahaharap ng ating mga sundalo," said Querubin, a Medal of Valor awardee who failed to secure a Senate seat in the May 10 polls. (But a P500 combat pay is still not enough. That amount does not compensate the amount of danger our soldiers are faced with.) Querubin, however, said he understands that this year's additional combat pay was only the start of more adjustments in the salaries of soldiers. "Hindi naman titigil iyan diyan. Sana next time may increase pa uli [I know it won't stop there. I am hoping there would be more increases in the future]," Querubin said. Improving military capability and benefits Aquino, whose mother Corazon Aquino's administration was rocked by several coup attempts, had promised early on in his presidency that he would work to improve benefits and equipment in the military. At the Philippine Air Force's 63rd anniversary last July 5, or just a few days into the Aquino presidency, Aquino said he aims to complete the on-base housing project to enhance the military’s readiness rate and is waiting for the presentation of reports on machine upgrades and procurement of new air assets and surveillance equipment, among others. On Tuesday, Aquino boasted in his speech that eight basic trainer aircraft for the Philippine Air Force and four watercraft units for the Philippine Army have been procured since he took over. Aquino said he remains committed to improving military benefits and capability. "Mula sa armas at mga benepisyong pangkalusugan, hanggang sa mga pabahay, titiyakin nating mapupunan ang mga kakulangang hindi nabigyang-pansin at nababalewala (From arms to health benefits, to housing, we will certainly address needs that are not given attention)," he said. — with Mark Merueñas/RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV
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