Cops, firemen, jail guards to get raise

Policemen, firemen and jail guards can definitely expect a salary increase this year.

No less than President Arroyo gave this assurance yesterday in a speech during the graduation rites of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) at Camp Mario Castañeda in Silang, Cavite.

The President said she will soon sign into law a bill mandating an increase in the monthly take-home pay of employees of the PNP, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

The Palace-certified bill, already approved by both chambers of Congress, is still being reviewed by the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO).

"I would like to sign it today but it did not reach my desk yet. There is a process that it has to follow first," Mrs. Arroyo said.

Once signed into law, the bill would make a policemen’s salary equal to that of a public school teacher.

"After making the salaries of policemen comparable with teachers, we might be able to grant a new round of salary increases to teachers and the rest of government employees," Mrs. Arroyo said,

"This is my next platform when Congress resumes after the elections," she promised.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr. added that the budget for the salary hikes for policemen, firemen and jail guards was already included in the proposed 2004 budget bill, which Congress has yet to approve into law.

Lina explained that the salary increase will be implemented on a staggered basis. Fifteen percent is scheduled to be given early this year while the next 35 percent will be given later in the year. The balance of 50 percent will be given next year.

Mrs. Arroyo, who is seeking a full six-year term in the coming elections, said that in her short stint at the presidency, she was able to implement full salary adjustments for policemen.

She also cited her administration’s housing assistance to lowly paid uniformed police and military officers.

"All of us want change. The changes that we want is about better living condition, which include our livelihood and safety. Even policemen, firemen and jail guards, like ordinary Filipinos, desire for a better quality of life," Mrs. Arroyo said.

At the PNPA graduation rites yesterday, the President also handed over a P1 million personal donation to the Kampilan Multi-Purpose Cooperative organized by the PNPA Alumni Foundation, headed by Western Police District (WPD) chief Director Pedro Bulaong.

Of the 140 PNPA graduates, 115 joined the PNP, 14 enlisted with the BFP and 11 joined the BJMP.

Mrs. Arroyo said that PNPA Class 2004 were especially close to her as they served as part of the security force of the government during the state visit of US President George W. Bush last year.

Presidential Security Guard (PSG) commander Col. Delfin Bangit told reporters that the class underwent a "crash course" on the VIP Protection at the PSG Training School.

Bangit said 50 of the cadets were deployed by the Task Force Bush as plainclothes security at the Luneta Park when Bush and First Lady Laura Bush laid a wreath at the Rizal monument.