SEN. GUINGONA PUSHES FOR BETTER COMPENSATION
FOR UNIFORMED PERSONNEL
EYES ADDED BENEFITS FOR VETERANS; REVISES AFP MODERNIZATION PROGRAM

Senator Teofisto "TG" Guingona III is pushing for more substantive benefits for the country's uniformed officers and enlisted personnel in order to augment their meager income and give them the dignity and honor they rightfully deserve.

Sen. Guingona sponsored Senate Joint Resolution No. 2 with Senators Antonio F. Trillanes IV, Juan Edgardo Angara, Loren Legarda and Cynthia Villar to increase the subsistence allowance of these officers and enlisted personnel from P90.00 to P150.00 daily.

Once approved, the benefits will cover the officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Cadets and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

"This measure will not only give them honor and recognition for the hardwork and sacrifices they make daily to secure peace, to protect the country's territorial integrity and to defend our sovereignty, but it is also one way of professionalizing these institutions that are integral to the nation," he said.

Likewise, Sen. Guingona authored another bill with Senator Trillanes, under Committee Report No. 57, that seeks to increase the burial benefits of veterans and their dependents from P10,000 to P20,000.

"Our veterans have served this country well. It is high time to increase the benefits due them. It is one way of honoring our veterans and their valuable contribution to our nation"s democracy," Sen. Guingona added.

He also authored Senate Bill No. 2269, also with Sen. Trillanes, to revise the "AFP Modernization Program." The bill seeks to relax the rule on the acquisition of essential military equipment, which would redound positively in terms of AFP's efficiency to respond to threats.

The three proposed measures, Sen. Guingona said, are meant to boost the morale, and provide better benefits to our uniformed personnel .