ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro (Facebook)

House Deputy Minority leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro voted against the Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) Pension Reform Bill for the reason that it would redirect a huge chunk of the national budget to the payment of MUP pensions instead of funding social services.

In explaining her "no" vote on the bill, Castro said that resources are better allocated to addressing the urgent needs of the Filipino people, particularly in the areas of healthcare, education, and poverty alleviation.

The lawmaker posited that the proposed persion reform would only perpetuate the existing imbalance in budget allocation, which disproportionately favors MUPs.

"Sa ngayon ang pension ng isang retiradong heneral ay mahigit P100,000 kada buwan libre din siya sa lahat ng gastos kapag siya ay naospital. Tapos ni wala silang inilabas ni singkong duling para magkapensyon dahil sagot ito lahat ng taumbayan. Samantalang ang mga miyembro ng GSIS at SSS na nagbabayad ng kontribusyon buwan-buwan ay nakakakuha lang ng P12,560 sa average sa GSIS at mga P4,000 naman sa SSS,” said Castro.

(Right now, a retired general has a pension of P100,000 per month plus free hospitalization. And they don't even have to pay a nickel for the pension since it's subsidized by the people. Meanwhile, GSIS and SSS members who pay contributions monthly only get an average pension of P12,560 from GSIS and P4,000 from SSS.)

She expressed concern over how the current form of the bill fails to address the pressing needs of Filipinos, which include MUPs’ option for early retirement and to be employed while under pension.

"Those in active service still have no contribution and there is still full indexation for the pension and retirement. This is outrageous, we cannot prioritize the pensions of a few at the expense of providing essential social services and fiscal stability that would benefit the entire nation.”

"Aside from these substantive issues, the bill also violates the rules on 'one bill, one subject rule' of Congress because it has a rider provision on salary increases for MUP," she added.

Castro further stressed the importance of diverting funds toward initiatives that would uplift the marginalized sectors of society, such as farmers, workers, and urban poor communities.

She mentioned poverty eradication programs, infrastructure development, and comprehensive social services as initiatives that would be beneficial in improving the lives of the Filipino people.

"We cannot continue to perpetuate a system that prioritizes the interests of a select few while neglecting the needs of the many. It is our duty as public servants to ensure that the national budget is utilized in a way that truly benefits the Filipino people," the Makabayan lawmaker said.

With the implications of the MUP Pension Reform Bill, Castro called on her colleagues to be critical of the bill and instead consider alternative measures.

"We must work towards a budget that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of our people. I urge my fellow lawmakers to join me in advocating for a just and equitable distribution of resources that will address the urgent concerns of our society," she concluded.