(Eagle News) – Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno confirmed on Monday that the increase in the base pay and allowances of soldiers and policemen had been included in the 2017 national budget.
Diokno, however, did not give any more details as he is expected to make the announcement about the figures in Malacanang on Tuesday.
In a yearend video report, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said President Rodrigo Duterte would fulfill his promise to the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines that he would increase their salaries.
The President had made this promise in his various speeches to the PNP and AFP, saying that they are the ones whose lives are always in danger in the fulfillment of their duties.
He said that he could not do so with the 2016 budget left by the previous administration as this was mostly for maintenance and operating expenses, but that he would make sure that the 2017 budget would include the pay hike.
“Kumikilos sa salita at gawa, tinupad ng Pangulo ang pangakong dagdag sahod sa mga sundalo at pulis,” Andanar said on the President’s promise regarding the pay hike.