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60% of cops against 5 % contribution pension share
By J.Lo
"Based on survey, more than 60 percent plus expressed resistance or not agreeable," Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr.said in interview more than half of the country's police force have rejected proposed five percent contribution for their pension being pushed by government's economic managers.
Acorda said this was result of survey they conducted to get sentiments of 228,000-strong police force on proposals to reform military and uniformed personnel (MUP) pension.
It means around 136,800 police officers are against proposed five to nine percent contribution.
Acorda said deductions for pension contribution would have significant impact on salaries of PNP members even without existing loans, especially on lower ranking police officers.
Under PNP regulations, salary of patrolman is P29,668 a month while those with rank of corporal have monthly base pay of P30,867.
"We saw on part of police, still painful, five percent contribution," Acorda said, adding that contribution would be more burdensome for police officers paying educational, housing and medical loans.
Marcos administration's economic managers want reforms in MUP pension system to avoid fiscal collapse.
Acorda is studying counter-proposal of contribution of one percent in first three years, which will increase to three percent and finally five percent.
Another contentious issue is whether contributions, in event lawmakers approve it, would apply to those in active service or only for new entries in police force.
Department of Finance (DOF) cautioned military and uniformed personnel amid surge in number of those opting for early retirement as government pushes for their pension reform.
DOF recently met with Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) as part of consultations to discuss MUP pension reform being pushed by economic managers.
Heads of MUP raised concern on number of personnel filing for optional retirement because of fear of pension reform.
For BFP alone, 342 personnel have already filed for optional retirement, 250 percent surge from last year.
Even Philippine National Police said some 1,793 police officers have filed for optional retirement as of mid-July. This is 73 percent of total 2,449 police officers that availed themselves of optional retirement in 2022.
Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno cautioned MUP against early retirement without evaluating real options of uniformed personnel.
She emphasized proposed reform has various early retirement options, which is not significantly different from what they currently have. Pension program is also designed to incentivize MUP to stay in system.
"Longer you stay in service, bigger your pension will be in the future. ..even in current regime, if you avail of early retirement, you will only get 50 percent of your base and longevity pay," Magno said. "This is opposed to possibility of getting as much as 90 percent if you compulsory retire under proposed reform."
Magno maintained real choice for those who want to avail themselves of early retirement is whether there is an alternative job waiting for them outside service.
During meeting, National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon reiterated reform will ensure availability of funds for MUP pensions in the future. She stressed pension reform will not have negative impact on MUP benefits as these will remain intact and unaffected.
Government's thrust in reforming MUP pension system is to address its sustainability and ensure provision of fair retirement benefits to MUP while easing pressure on government budget over time.
Current MUP pension system is non-contributory and, as such, retirement pensions and benefits are fully funded by government through annual appropriations.
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