The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has updated the regular and collateral allowances for policemen, especially those involved in high-risk or specialized assignments that include actual combat operations against various armed groups.

The increase covers subsistence, quarters, clothing, hazard pay, combat duty and incentive pay, sea and flying duty allowances, hardship allowances, and other operational benefits.

The Napolcom en banc issued the memorandum circular a few days after its order reversing a revamp in the Philippine National Police (PNP) drew the ire of top police officials over a perceived overstepping of boundaries in supervising the organization.

The order, signed by all its executives except for PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III, triggered the issuance of manifestos of support from various PNP Academy Classes and police generals but Torre said on Monday, he considered the incident a closed case.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Aug. 20, Napolcom said the updating of regular and collateral allowances was aimed at ensuring that all policemen are adequately supported in the performance of their duties.

Based on the memorandum circular, the new policy rationalizes compensation by prescribing regular allowances, such as quarters, subsistence, clothing, and hazard pay, in addition to collateral pay and special incentives for those engaged in high-risk or specialized assignments.

It grants special combat duty pay amounting to ₱3,000 per month for personnel involved in actual police operations, as well as combat incentive pay of ₱300 per day for those involved in actual combat operations against various insurgents, terrorists, and lawless elements.

Personnel assigned to high-risk tasks are entitled to a hazardous duty pay equivalent to 50 percent of their base salary, and those exposed to radioactive elements are granted an additional 15 percent.

For specialized operations, a sea duty pay of 25 percent and a flying pay of 50 percent of the base pay are provided to personnel engaged in maritime and air missions, respectively.

“Furthermore, hardship allowances ranging from 10% to 25% of base pay are granted to personnel assigned to isolated and difficult areas, ensuring fair recognition of the challenges faced by officers in the field,” the statement read.

But in the same statement, it said the implementation of the revised allowance structure "shall be subject to the availability of funds, as certified by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)."