DBM releases P167M for retired firemen

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced the release of P167 million which will  cover pension arrears of 380 retired firemen from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

According to the DBM, the funds will benefit pensioners who retired from 1991 to 2001, and those who were not previously covered by the BFP Retirement and Separation Benefit System (RSBS).

 â€œWhen these firemen retired between 1991 to 2001, the system that could have facilitated the timely release of their retirement and pension benefits was not fully established. Now that we’ve established that system, it’s only appropriate for our pensioners under the fire protection bureau to receive their unpaid pension benefits immediately, especially as they’ve served their respective communities very faithfully in the course of their work,” Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said.

The DBM is also processing P66 million worth of  pension arrears of 212 BFP survivorship pensioners pending the actual determination and validation of said pensioners. 

 â€œEven while we sustain our support for the President’s priority programs and projects, it’s important not to lose sight of the needs of our public servants, without whom the work of reform cannot be done. Responding to their needs includes not just the quick and faithful release of their salaries, but also of the benefits that allow them or their surviving families to remain financially independent once they retire. It’s the least we can do for them,” Abad said.