MARCH 5, 2015

NR # 3761

Solon seeks transfer of budget for PNP Medal of Valor awardees gratuity
to DILG from AFP
A House member is seeking the transfer of the budget for the monthly gratuity and privileges
granted to Medal of Valor awardees of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from the Armed Forces of
the Philippines (AFP) to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Rep. Leopoldo N. Bataoil (2nd District, Pangasinan), a retired police general, said the budget
transfer to the DILG would ensure faster release of the monthly gratuity and pension to the awardees and
their families.
Our PNP Medal of Valor awardees have a hard time claiming their gratuities because Section 7
of Republic Act 9049 provides that the amount necessary for implementation of the law shall be charged
to the AFP appropriations, said Bataoil.
The lawmaker explained that RA 9049 was passed into law on March 22, 2001 to honor military
heroes in order to strengthen the patriotic spirit and nationalist consciousness of the military. The law
enumerates the gratuities and privileges that the awardee and his family are entitled. The gratuities are
separate and distinct from the military heroes monthly salary or pension.
He explained further that when the Local Government was passed into law in 1979, the PNP was
among the government agencies that were devolved to the local government.
As such, the PNP budget should be included in the DILG. Hence, it is necessary that RA 9049 be
amended to transfer the budget for gratuity and privileges of the awardees for the PNP Medal of Valor
from the AFP to the DILG, said Bataoil, a vice chairman of the House Committees on Appropriations,
on Veterans Affairs and Welfare, and on Public Information.
The Medal of Valor is the highest award given to a PNP member for his conspicuous gallantry and
intrepidity at the risk of life and limb above and beyond the call of duty and in total disregard of personal
safety. Aside from the decoration that an awardee will receive, he and his family are also entitled to some
gratuities and privileges, according to Bataoil.
In House Bill 5490, which is now pending at the Committee on Appropriations chaired by Rep.
Isidro T. Ungab (3rd District, Davao City, Bataoil sought the amendment of Section 7 of RA 9049 so that
The amount necessary to initially implement the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the
current annual appropriations of the Department of Interior and Local Government. In the event that the
available savings is not enough to fully implement the additional benefits, the grant of the same shall be
applied uniformly to all awardees/beneficiaries. Thereafter, such sums as may be needed for the effective
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
The bill likewise seeks to amend Section 8 of RA 9049 so that The Secretary of the Department
of Interior and Local Government in coordination with the Department of Education, Department of
Health, Department of Transportation and Communications and Department of Finance and other
appropriate government agencies shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the
objectives of this decree: Provided, that current recipients of this gratuity shall likewise be granted the
additional privileges as provided for in this Act. (30) rbb