SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday announced that a consensus has been reached on how to fund the reforms needed for the Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) pension and make the program more reliable and sustainable in the years to come.
“Our soldiers and uniformed personnel are now assured: their pension plans are now fully funded. Not only in 2023 or 2024, but in years to come,” Romualdez said.
Speaker Romualdez noted that the consensus was reached after members of the government’s economic team and senior House leaders met closed-door upon the instruction of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos, Jr. to thresh out disagreements over the MUP pension reforms.
“I am happy to report that we have reached a consensus after a three-hour meeting. We all agreed on a solution that we, believe, will be beneficial to all stakeholders in the MUP pension program,” the top House leader pointed out.
“Ang sinigurado namin, mababayaran ang lahat ng pension ng ating mga sundalo at uniformed personnel. Lahat ng ahensiya ng gobyerno at kami dito sa Kongreso ay magtutulungan para masigurado ito,” he added.
“Kung maiaayos natin ang MUP pension program, masisiguro rin natin na magkakaroon ng dagdag na suweldo ang ating mga sundalo at uniformed personnel taun-taon,” Romualdez added.
As an offshoot of the meeting, Speaker Romualdez said he instructed the formation of an Ad Hoc Committee in the House of Representatives to thresh out other details of the reforms agreed upon by executive officials and House leaders.
The Ad Hoc Committee will be chaired by Rep. Joey Salceda, chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, who offered the win-win formula during the closed-door meeting. Joining as Vice Chairs of the Committee are the Chairs of the House Committees on Appropriation, National Defense, and Public Order and Security.
Speaker Romualdez said the Ad Hoc Committee will invite stakeholders in the MUP pension to join its public hearings and consultation to ensure that their concerns are heard and acted upon. “Lilinawin sa mga public hearings ang lahat ng isyu tungkol sa MUP. Didinigin natin ang lahat ng boses. Sisiguruhin natin na sa bagong MUP pension program, tuloy-tuloy ang benepisyo ng mga pensiyunado at tutulungan sila ng gobyerno sa pag-iipon ng pera,” he stressed.
