Duterte signs benefit program for cops, soldiers killed in action

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has issued an order institutionalizing the Comprehensive Social Benefits Program (CSBP) which provides assistance to police and military personnel killed or wounded in operations.

Duterte signed Tuesday Executive No. 110 which directs the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of National Defense (DND) to implement the CSBP.

Malacañang released the copy of the order on Wednesday.

“The CSBP shall provide for different types of benefits and assistance, such as but not limited to: (a) special financial assistance; (b) scholarship assistance; (c) social welfare assistance; (d) health and medical care assistance; (e) shelter assistance; and (f) employment assistance,” EO 110 said.

The program covers military and police forces, including uniformed personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) Active Auxiliary (CAA) units.

“The above benefits and assistance provided through the CSBP may be adjusted, modified or removed, based on the availability of funds, or upon the instruction of the President, as may be recommended by government agencies implementing the CSBP,” it added.

A regional working group in each administrative region will be created to assist the national government agencies in implementing the program.

The funding requirements for this purpose shall be sourced from existing appropriations.

As for the succeeding years, the funding requirements shall be included in the respective budgets of government agencies in charged in its implementation.

EDV