Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has approved the release of PHP30.409 billion to cover the regular pension requirements of military and uniformed personnel (MUP) for the first quarter of 2025.

In a statement Monday, the DBM said the fund is chargeable against the Pension and Gratuity Fund under Republic Act 12116 or the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

The DBM said around PHP16.752 billion of the PHP30.409 has been released to the Armed Forces of the Philippines’s General Headquarters-Proper and the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office under the Department of National Defense.

A total of PHP13.297 billion has been given to the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s attached agencies, including the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and National Police Commission.

The DBM also released some PHP8.530 million for the 34 pensioners under the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The funding requirements for the payment of pension to the 2,836 retired uniformed personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard for the same period reached PHP350.680 million, the DBM said.

“The releases are based on the actual pension payroll submitted by the above-mentioned MUP agencies as of Dec. 31, 2024,” it said.

Pangandaman said the release of funds for the MUP’s pension was in compliance with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“For many MUP retirees and their families, pensions are a lifeline that ensure their daily needs are met, katulad po ng pambili ng gamot o pagkain (like buying medicine or food),” she said.

“Naiintindihan po natin, lalo na po ni Pangulong BBM, kung gaano kahalaga na matanggap po ng ating mga pensioner ang benepisyo nila kaya agad-agad rin po, matapos makumpleto ang mga kailangang dokumento, pinirmahan po natin ang pagpapalabas ng budget sa mga concerned agencies (We understand, especially President BBM, how important it is for our pensioners to receive their benefits. That is why we, after completing the necessary documents, immediately signed the release of the budget to the concerned agencies),” Pangandaman added. (PNA)