DOF revisits MUP pension reform

The Department of Finance (DOF) is again considering reforms in the pension system of military and other uniformed personnel (MUP) as the budget proposal for the sector next year could rise by over 60 percent.

- LOUISE MAUREEN SIMEON

Under the 2025 National Expenditure Program, the proposed allocation for the Pension and Gratuity Fund (PGF) is at P232 billion, up 62 percent from this year's P143 billion.

The annual fund is meant for 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 P6.352 trillion budget for 2025.

"We are going through it again because if we increase civilian salaries, we expect our MUP salaries to increase and therefore computations will change," Finance Secretary Ralph Recto told The STAR.