A BILL filed at the House of Representatives provides additional government financial assistance to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel who get killed in action or incapacitated for life in the line of duty.
Rep. Eddie Villanueva of the CIBAC party-list group filed House Bill 10283 in light of continuous water cannon attacks by China Coast Guard PCG patrol vessels at the West Philippine Sea.
The bill mandates the inclusion of the surviving family members of PCG personnel who are either killed in action or permanently incapacitated while in the performance of duty among the recipients of government’s institutionalized financial assistance.
HB 10283 amends Republic Act 6963 or the law which grants special financial assistance equivalent to the average six month’s salary, including allowances, bonuses, and other benefits only to surviving family or beneficiary of policemen, military personnel or firemen killed or permanently incapacitated in the performance of duty.
“Our country being an archipelagic nation critically needs the service of coast guards who uphold safety, order, and sovereignty in our waters – especially in times of martial disputes. For this reason, it will be an injustice to our brave coast guards if their family members will remain to be not covered by the special financial assistance currently extended by the government to other defense personnel. It’s high time we accord their families with the necessary support in case of untimely demise or unfortunate events in line of the mandate they took oath to serve,” Villanueva said.
“We hope this bill will boost the inspiration and motivation of our coast guards who are willing to sacrifice life and limb to safeguard the safety of the country,” said the CIBAC solon.
The bill also expands the scholarship privilege currently given to the beneficiaries by mandating that a stipend covering other school fees, outright grant for prescribed textbooks and essential school supplies, outright grant for prescribed military science and physical education uniform, transportation expenses, and monthly living allowance be added to existing entitlements, which only cover tuition and miscellaneous expenses.
The funds necessary for the scholarship assistance shall be taken from the proceeds of the license fees for firearms collected by the Philippine National Police (PNP) which, according to the bill, is underutilized and has surplus.
“The current scholarship benefits of RA 6963 only cover tuition and miscellaneous fees. Under the proposed bill, we expand it by adding a reasonable amount of stipend for the surviving children of deceased or permanently incapacitated police, military, fireman, and coast guard personnel. This is a fitting recognition of their selfless service to the country,” Villanueva added.