Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 16) — Police recruitment and some training programs have been placed on the backburner to increase the hazard pay of frontliners in the fight against the new coronavirus.
Philippine National Police spokesperson BGen. Bernard Banac said on Thursday the budget for certain projects and activities would be realigned to fund the P500 a day hazard pay for policemen, which they will receive beginning April 17.
“May ilang mga projects and activities na naapektuhan, subalit ito ‘yung administrative lamang. Pagdating sa operational activities, hindi naman maaapektuhan dahil talagang ito ay mandatory activities natin. Lalo na ‘yung law enforcement actions, hindi maaaring galawin,” Banac told CNN Philippines.
[Translation: Some projects and activities were affected, but these are just administrative only. When it comes to operational activities, these won’t be affected because these are mandatory activities, especially law enforcement actions, that can’t be touched.]
Initially, the daily hazard pay for policemen was pegged at P235, which did not sit well with some police officers since the hazard pay of front liners from other uniformed services — like the military and jail personnel — is at P500 per day.
Banac said more than 200,000 PNP personnel will receive the hazard pay except those who are facing administrative sanctions.
