The Philippine National Police (PNP) non-uniformed personnel (NUP) is optimistic that the House of Representative will soon start its discussion on the Magna Carta for all the NUPs.
In a radio interview on Thursday, PNP-NUP Association Incorporated national president Sarah Sopeῆa Lerum said House Bill (HB) 9621 titled Instituting the Magna Carta for all Non-Uniformed Workers in the Military and all other Uniformed Agencies pursues to recognize the invaluable services of NUPs.
“This will really help us because the bill seeks to address the longstanding issues of our civilian employees in the uniformed agencies who have quietly suffered from low pay, long work hours, unsafe working conditions, and lack of benefits, social protection, and job security for years even as we fulfill our duties as partners of uniformed personnel in protecting the lives of the Filipino people,” she said.
Lerum said NUPs’ wage is based on the salary standardization law, and they were “left behind” when there was an increase in the salary of the uniformed personnel.
“Even if the PNP wanted to raise our salaries, legislation is needed for it to be carried out,” she added.
HB 9621 was introduced by Pangasinan Rep. and Deputy Speaker Rosemarie “Baby” Arenas.
Lerum said sometime in 2019, Senate President Vicente Sotto III filed a Senate version of the bill.
Once the bill hurled readings from both Houses, Lerum said their salary should be as equal as the uniformed government workers.
Meanwhile, during his recent visit to Pangasinan, PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said he supports whatever the appropriate benefits are for the NUPs.
“Whatever benefits that need to be provided to them, which are valid and legal, must be given to them. We support whatever benefits for our NUPs,” Eleazar said in a recent interview
Source: Philippines News Agency
