President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said that at least P500 million budget will be allocated to the wounded cops and soldiers who fought for the liberation of Marawi.
“I told Defense Secretary Lorenzana that I’d be releasing 500 million for the wounded and disabled soldiers para lang sa kanila,” Duterte said during the 67th Birthday of Philippine Marine Corps in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
“Ibigay ko na lang sa opisina ‘yan ni Delfin (Lorenzana) and siya na ang bahala for the immediate release of the medicines and to shop around for the titaniums,” Duterte said.
The president also said that he ordered the National Housing Authority (NHA) to find a lot for the housing projects that will be given to the wounded uniformed personnel.
“I have ordered the NHA to find a lot somewhere here and to build the houses for those who are wounded and those who are unfortunately, pardon the word, they say… disabled,” Duterte said.
“I’ll build something like a convalescent’s village dito sa malapit sa urban cities, where the soldiers can have a better access to the hospitals, and of course, the training for the prosthetics,” he added.
Aside from the housing projects and prostestics, Duterte also promised an increase in salary of the government forces, including personnel from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
“And so, January all of the soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, BJMP, ‘yung mga bumbero will have an increase almost double their salaries. Inuna ko kayo,” Duterte said.
The Commander-in-chief also lauded anew the efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for retaking of Marawi from the hands of the daesh-inspired Maute terror group.
“I would like to thank the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police for a job well done in Marawi City,” he said. (Erwin Peñano/PTV)
Watch the full speech of President Rodrigo Duterte during the 67th Birthday of Philippine Marine Corps in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City:
