By Daniel Manalastas
House leaders led by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco have filed House Bill (HB) No. 9149 seeking to provide an additional P54.6 billion in the 2021 national budget for the Pension and Gratuity Fund (PGF) for retired military and uniformed personnel (MUP) in government.
The bill is co-authored by House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, House Minority Leader Joseph Stephen Paduano, and House Appropriations Panel Chairperson Eric Go Yap.
Once passed, the bill will be used to pay the pensions of retired uniformed personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA).
“The passage of this supplemental budget will ensure the final settlement of the long-overdue pension differential of retired MUPs, who have faithfully served the country while they were on active duty,” Velasco said.
As for sourcing the funds for this initiative, under the bill, “the sum of P54.6 billion is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury of the Philippines…”
The bill was filed after Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor revealed weeks ago that P20 billion for the PGF was removed from the 2021 national budget and he wanted Velasco to be held responsible over such claims.
But Yap came to Velasco’s defense, who had said that the P20 billion budget realigned was meant for the national government’s COVID-19 response. Yap said there was no irregularity in the 2021 national budget, explaining that it was deliberated upon by the House in cooperation with the executive department. He also said the supplemental budget will augment the PGF which was affected by the budget realignment.
