Duterte wants military pension reform certified as urgent
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is set to certify a proposed measure reforming the pension system for retired soldiers as urgent, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.
The president declared this during a Cabinet meeting Wednesday night, according to his spokesperson.
"It is also discussed in the Cabinet meeting the military and uniformed personnel pension reform bill. This was proposed by the Department of National Defense, which the president said he will certify as an urgent piece of legislation," Panelo said in a press briefing Thursday.
Asked why the president felt the need to certify the bill as urgent, the Malacañang mouthpiece said there might be more retired government troops complaining about their pension.
The proposed law, which has been backed by the DND, suggests that pension payments for retirees will only start at the age of 60.
Panelo also said he does not think this proposal would cost Duterte the support of the military as raises the compulsory retirement age from 56 to 60.
"'Yung sinasabi mong baka may kontra sa 56 to 60 gusto nga nila 'yun na di pa sila magre-retire kasi 'pag 56 retire ka na 'di wala ka na trabaho... Samantalang kung 60 pwede ka pa magtrabaho, you have additional four years," Panelo told reporters.
He added that he thinks the proposed measure is designed for the benefit of uniformed personnel.
The proposed law indicates that those who want to retire earlier would still receive their pension when they reach 60 years old.
Last year, Duterte asked the Department of Finance to fasttrack the creation of a masterplan to overhaul the military pension system while the government has yet to resolve the issue of ballooning military pension cost. — Patricia Lourdes Viray
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