Dela Rosa looks for ways to pay military retirees, veterans PHP28.8 billion in pension arrears

SENATOR Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, has vowed to find a way to come up with funds to pay the PHP28.8 billion in pension arrears to retired military personnel and veterans.

This despite the approval by the Finance subcommittee C headed by Dela Rosa, of the aggregate defense budget amounting to PHP297.137 billion, in which the Department of National Defense (DND) proposed a P75.530-billion total pension funds.

"Itong problema na PHP28,820,000,000 na unfunded pension requirement. Paano ba natin ito hahanapan ng paraan? Dahil alam n'yo, kami palagi ni Sen. (Panfilo) Lacson ang bina-bash ng mga retired AFP and PNP personnel tungkol dito eh. Palagi silang galit dahil sabi nila, porke't senador na kayo diyan, pinabayaan na lang ninyo kaming mga retirees," Dela Rosa asked Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

The former chief of the Philippine National Police added, "Kami palagi 'yung pinapagalitan ng mga retirees na 'bakit hindi n'yo inaasikaso ito samantalang 'yung ibang mga civilian retirees, walang reklamo. Kami na pawis, dugo at buhay ang sinusugal namin dito... Para bang kami ni Sen. Lacson eh pinabayaan namin sila," he said.

Lorenzana shared that he has the same problem and is also on the receiving end of complaints regarding pension.

Dela Rosa requested from the defense department a concrete proposal to address the issue at hand, which will be forwarded to Senator Sonny Angara, Chairman of the Committee on Finance.

"Tulungan natin ito, sir, ma-solve. We are willing to help you. Paano natin hahanapan ng paraan ito...You should give us the proper recommendation para mahanapan ito ng paraan," Dela Rosa said.

"We will refer this matter to the chairman (Senator Sonny Angara) of the Finance committee. Kasi ang gagawin niya lang naman dito is give and take. Take away from the other and give it to the most urgent need...Babalasahin lang niya itong ating budget. Basta tayo, tulungan natin ito," the Mindanaoan Senator said further.

Lorenzana recommended the initial payment of the PHP20.3-billion remaining pension differential for the fiscal year 2018.

Last year, Senator Dela Rosa filed Senate Bill No. 1864 that seeks to provide a unified system for Separation, Retirement, and Pension of the Military and Uniformed Personnel for new entrants. The legislative proposal will ensure a sustainable and permanent solution to the "ballooning effect" in the national budget of the current pension system.