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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Air Force general supports change in retirement age, 3-year term for Chief of Staff

Air Force general supports change in retirement age, 3-year term for Chief of Staff

Published Oct 3, 2020 12:18 pm

Air Force Major General Rene S. Diaz has expressed his support for a Senate bill seeking to increase the retirement age in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from the current mandatory retirement age of 56 to a higher age and adopting a three-year tenure for an AFP chief of staff.

Senator Franklin Drilon (Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN)

Senate Minority Leader Franklin M, Drilon said the aim of the bill was to ensure stability and continuity of the AFP programs, and stanch the flow of allocations for retirement benefits of the uniformed services of the AFP which has now breached the P5 trillion level, way above the proposed 2021 P4.5 trillion national budget.

The bill, according to Drilon, is now at the technical working group (TWG) level  in the Senate legislative process.

Responding to Drilon’s queries during a recent public hearing by the national defense committee of the Commission on Appointments (CA), Diaz said that aside from ensuring stability in the AFP programs, the AFP Chief of Staff with a fixed three-year term could monitor the strategic directions of the AFP.

Another reason, according to Diaz, is that the AFP Chief of Staff would give his utmost dedication and focus on his job in view of the current AFP Modernization Program.

Drilon lamented that under the current retirement age of 56 and the revolving policy for AFP chiefs of staff who serve a month or more before retirement,  the country is deprived of their talents and skills.

‘’This is not good for the organization,’’ he added.

Diaz’s appointment was later confirmed by the CA in last Wednesday’s plenary session presided by Senate President Vicente C.  Sotto III, concurrent CA chairman.

Drilon explained that the AFP retirement pay is not funded but is allocated yearly in the General Appropriations Act (GAA or national budget).

Past Congresses had tried to grapple with the increasing financial burden of government in paying retirement benefits to the country’s armed services.

Diaz conceded that, at the mandatory retirement age of 56, a staff officer leaving the organization the AFP  ‘’is (still) very young.’’

He thus welcomed the Senate’s initiative in extending the retirement age.

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