MUP pension budget rising 50% to P217 B

As reform in the pension system of the military and other uniformed personnel (MUP) has been put in the back burner, the government will have to increase the sector's budget by 50 percent to P217 billion next year.

- By LOUISE MAUREEN SIMEON

Based on the emerging 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) obtained by The STAR, the proposed allocation for the Pension and Gratuity Fund (PGF) is at P216.54 billion, up by 50 percent from this year's P144.72 billion.

The annual fund is meant to pay MUPs' pension and retirement gratuity and terminal leave benefits, including separation benefits and incentives.

Given that the MUP pension system reform has yet to become a law, it remains included in the record P6.793 trillion budget for 2026.