Senator Juan Edgardo Angara has pressed for the immediate passage of bills granting special financial assistance and benefits to uniformed and law enforcement personnel following the killing of 58 government troops in intense firefights with the Maute group in Marawi City.
“As the siege by extremist groups continues to drag on in Marawi City, our brave soldiers need all the support they can get,” Angara said.
“It’s unfortunate that this conflict has cost the lives of many of our troops. We condole with their families,” Angara said.
The number of fallen government troops since the President placed the entire Mindanao until martial law on May 23 has been increasing after a 16-hour gunfight over the weekend left 13 Marines killed.
Angara is one of the authors of Senate Bill 1462 or the Uniformed and Law Enforcement Personnel Special Financial Assistance Act, and SB 1463 or the Uniformed and Law Enforcement Personnel Educational Assistance Act.
Under SB 1462, a special financial assistance equivalent to the average six months salary, including allowances and bonuses, will be provided to the families and beneficiaries of any personnel of the PNP and the AFP killed or permanently incapacitated while in the line of duty.
Surviving spouses or designated beneficiaries will also be given priority in employment in government agencies and offices where their qualifications are fitted.
SB 1463, on the other hand, provides that all surviving children will automatically and without qualification be extended full scholarship from kindergarten to tertiary level. The privilege includes payment of tuition and miscellaneous fees, allowance for books and school supplies, and allowance for food and transportation.
The proposed measure further seeks to create a Dependents Welfare Office to expedite the grant of special financial assistance and benefits, which should be within three days from receipt of a written certification of the fact of death or permanent disability or incapacity.
If any personnel is injured or wounded in the performance of official duties, hospitalization expenses, including necessary medicine and medical equipment, will be shouldered by the government.
The proposed measure expanded the coverage of the special assistance to uniformed personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Bureau of Corrections.
“Such special assistance befits the selfless service of our fallen heroes who have offered their lives to preserve peace, defend the dignity of the country, and ensure the safety of all Filipinos,” the lawmaker said.
In addition, Angara has filed a bill that seeks to increase a soldier’s hazard pay to 25 percent of his base pay.
“If our bill passed into law, we will see an eightfold increase in the hazard pay,” he said.