PASAY CITY — Uniformed service agencies have formally backed legislative measures seeking to move the mandatory retirement age for personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) from 56 to 57 years old.
The endorsement was delivered during the initial committee hearing on Friday, October 23, at the Senate. Representatives argued that extending the service period would preserve institutional knowledge, retain seasoned officers, and grant leadership ample time to implement long-term reforms.
In addition, the PNP noted that the adjustment would align its retirement policies with those of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
However, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who leads the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, raised concerns regarding how the extension might disrupt the career progression and promotion timelines of junior officers.
“Merong class dito sa Philippine National Police Academy na tatamaan because magma-mark time. Pag na-postpone yung retirement ng high-ranking officers, merong magma-mark time dito, hindi mapo-promote ka agad,” Lacson stated during the hearing.
Echoing these concerns, the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) suggested that exempting personnel who are less than a year away from retirement could help prevent bottlenecks and maintain steady movement within the ranks.
Senator Lacson previously filed Senate Bill Nos. 2395 and 2396 in August, proposing the age extension for the PNP, BJMP, and BFP, complete with provisions allowing those closest to retirement to exit at age 56. While the Civil Service Commission expressed general support for the bills, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) deferred to Congress while presenting initial fiscal forecasts.
According to the DBM, the deferred retirement and terminal leave payouts could yield initial savings of ₱10.74-billion in 2027—encompassing ₱7.34-billion from the PNP, ₱1.72-billion from the BJMP, and ₱1.68-billion from the BFP.
Nevertheless, these figures would be counterbalanced by immediate compensation costs estimated at ₱1.18-billion for 1,210 PNP personnel, ₱258-million for 546 BJMP personnel, and ₱386-million for 271 BFP personnel.
Lacson and the DBM further cautioned that long-term expenditures could eventually rise due to accumulated leave credits, increased longevity pay, and larger retirement benefits pegged to updated salary rates.