MANILA – Senator Christopher “Bong” Go stated that a bill aimed at reforming the military and uniformed personnel (MUP) pension system should only affect new entrants and not those already in active service or current retirees.
He added that there is a need to strike a balance between the wellbeing of military and other uniformed employees and their families, while resolving the potential financial burden of the military pension system based on current assumptions.
“Nais ko klaruhin — suportado ko ang pension reform para maiwasan na maging isang financial disaster ito in the long-run. Pero ayoko na bawasan o maapektuhan ang kasalukuyang pension ng mga nag-retiro na o ‘yung inaasahang pension ng mga naka active duty pa (I would like to clarify, I support pension reform to prevent financial disaster in the long run. But I don’t want the present pension of those who already retired or the pension of who are still in active duty to be affected),” Go said in a statement on Sunday.
Go noted that he and President Rodrigo Duterte will do everything possible to make the MUP pension system more economically sustainable without jeopardizing the country’s uniformed soldiers.
“Kung hindi natin ma-cure ang problemang ito ngayon, baka mas lumala pa ang sitwasyon at kawawa hindi lang ang pensioners kundi ang taumbayan. Long-term po ang solusyon na gusto namin ni Pangulong Duterte dito (If we will not fix this problem now, the situation may worsen and not only the pensioners but the people will be miserable. What President Duterte and I want is long-term solution),” Go said.
Go added that his proposed Senate Bill 1419 intends to achieve fiscal stability and sustainability of military and police pensions while protecting current retirees and those in active service.
President Rodrigo Duterte stated in his 2017 budget message that pension reform should be undertaken “in view of the ballooning budget burden where the total cost of the pensions of retired soldiers will exceed the compensation of those in active service.”
According to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), based on the current plan, PHP800 billion is required annually for the next 20 years to pay the MUP pension.
Go emphasized the importance of enacting the legislation now, stating that the current administration will always protect the wellbeing of its military troops.
“This is a way to address the bloating pension system and the impending financial disaster without sacrificing the interests of those who are already in active service or those who are already retired,” he said.
Go stated that both the Senate and the House of Representatives are still deliberating on the proposed measure, and that they will take into account the concerns of individuals who may be affected by any proposed legislation.
“I am proposing a win-win solution. As a lawmaker, I am always ready to listen and work towards what is beneficial to the people I represent in the Senate while crafting legislation that can further protect and promote the welfare of Filipinos,” he said.
