AFP welcomes call of Duterte for a law to reform pension system

July 28, 2020

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomes the call of President Rodrigo Duterte to prioritize the passage of a law which seeks to reform the pension system for military and uniformed personnel.

"We welcome that pronouncement, and thank the President and Commander-in-Chief, directing the institution of a new retirement and separation benefits system for new AFP recruits and officer candidates," Major Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesman, said Tuesday.

"That will address the concerns of the present pension and retirement pay of the AFP which is taken from the defense budget," he added.

In his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA), Duterte emphasized the importance of adjusting the pension system for the newly hired uniformed personnel.

"I call on Congress to prioritize the passage of a law for the Unified System of Separation, Retirement and Pension of the Military and Uniformed Personnel without however diminishing the benefits that our uniformed personnel are entitled to under existing laws," Duterte said.

"There is a need to adjust the pension system which will be applicable only to newly-hired uniformed personnel so as not to cause a 'ballooning effect' against the budget of the military in the years to come and yet maintain the pension benefits of those already in service under the present law," Duterte said.

"This issue needs a solution now. Let's start now so that it will not be a problem in the next years," he added. Robina Asido/DMS