Press Release
September 2, 2016

Lamenting AFP's P390-hazard pay per month
ANGARA CALLS FOR HIGHER HAZARD PAY FOR SOLDIERS AMID INTENSIFIED FIGHT VS ABU SAYYAF

Senator Sonny Angara has renewed his call to raise the hazard pay of all personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) who are assigned in conflict areas in the wake of President Duterte's directive to go "full force" against the Abu Sayyaf.

The AFP is set to deploy five more battalions composed of 2,500 troops in Sulu amid mounting casualties including 15 soldiers who were killed by the bandit group last Monday.

"Matagal na po nating ipinapanawagan na taasan na sana ang hazard pay ng ating mga sundalo dahil talagang napakaliit ng halagang P390 kada buwan kung araw-araw ay nahaharap ang ating libu-libong militar sa matinding panganib," Angara said.

The senator has filed Senate Bill 955 that seeks to increase AFP's hazard pay to 25 percent of their base pay.

If passed, the hazard pay of a Private First Class, whose monthly base pay is P15,592, will be raised from P390 to P3,898.

The last hazard pay hike of all military and uniformed personnel was implemented in February this year under Executive Order 201.

Section 8 of EO 201 provides that the hazard pay will be increased from P240 per month to P390 in 2016, P540 by 2017, P690 by 2018, and P840 by 2019.

"Kahit katataas lamang po nito, hindi pa rin ito sapat upang mapunan ang kanilang mga pangangailangan at matumbasan ang kanilang mga sakripisyo at pagbubuwis-buhay," Angara stressed.

The lawmaker has also filed Senate Bill 956 that aims to create a Military Dependents Welfare Office, and to institutionalize and increase education, health and housing benefits for military dependents.

"The government should also prioritize providing more benefits for the families and loved ones of our gallant soldiers given their vital role in the protection of our country's integrity," he said.

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