Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 10) — The Philippine National Police is conducting an information drive among its personnel on the proposed reforms in the Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) pension system.
PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said on Monday they also want to get the sentiments of their members specifically on the proposal to deduct from 5% to 9% of their salary as contribution to the pension system for policemen.“We are trying to get all the sentiments of our personnel so that we can make the necessary report or recommendations to the proper authorities, especially in coming up with the legislation,” said Acorda.
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Acorda admitted that the issue is a sensitive point of discussion in their organization.“There are things to be explained. If you say contribution, it’s immediately taken as a negative. There are things that we have been explaining to them like the reform as a long-term one and somehow, there are initial feedbacks,” said Acorda.Based on the initial proposal, those in the uniformed service will initially contribute 5% of their salary in the first three years of the implementation while new recruits would pay 9%.The target is to obtain a 21% monthly premium from the salary, which is the same as other government employees.
The implementation is gradual — 5% of the monthly salary for the first three years until the target monthly contribution is reached.
Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno earlier warned of an MUP pension crisis if no immediate reforms are initiated.Unlike private employees and other workers in government, no deduction is made on the monthly salary of uniformed personnel. Instead, the government fully shoulders their pension.Also covered by the MUP pension system are personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Bureau of Corrections.
