PNP chief signs request for hazard pay increase

MANILA, Philippines – Lawmen may start receiving additional ‘hazard pay’ starting July 1, a police spokesman said Tuesday.

Philippine National Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said that PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo has signed on Monday a request for an increase in their version of the military’s ‘combat pay,’ the policemen’s monthly ‘hazard pay’.

“The formal request will pass through the Secretary of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Budget and Management (before it is presented for the approval of) the president,” the spokesman explained.

“Policemen securing areas known to be teeming with rebels will receive, effective July 1, increased amounts of their hazard pay,” said Cruz who sorted the amount of payment into three categories:

Category 1: for areas severely infested by rebels
Category 2: for areas with moderate infestation of rebels
Category 3: for areas with minimal infestation of rebels

“Hazard pay for Category 1 has been raised from the original P320 to P500. The amount paid out for Category 2 has been increased from P280 to P410 while the payment for Category 3 has been raised from P220 to P320,” Cruz revealed.

Cruz stated that the PNP chief was optimistic that the request for the increase in their hazard pay would be approved by President Benigno Aquino III as “we have some small savings from our personnel services.”