The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) clarified that the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) must be the one to resolve the issue on the delay of the 2018 differential pay of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) retirees.
In a public briefing, Secretary Wendel Avisado pointed out that the DBM merely bases the list of retirees receiving their retirement pay on what is given to them. A Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) has already been issued for the pension of the retirees and the cash programming is currently under the Bureau of Treasury.
Sec. Avisado disclosed that additional funds cannot be released and funds cannot be delayed because they will be flagged by the Commission on Audit (COA). He insisted that the issue must be resolved immediately by PVAO especially that it is a personal order of President Rodrigo R. Duterte. – Report from Naomi Tiburcio
