MANILA, Philippines — Parañaque Representative Brian Raymund Yamsuan is urging Congress to pass legislation that would provide non-uniformed personnel (NUPs) within military and law enforcement agencies with better pay, security of tenure, and enhanced benefits.
In a statement on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Yamsuan highlighted the “wide disparity” between the compensation of civilian personnel and their uniformed counterparts, following recent government moves to raise the base pay and allowances for Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUPs).
The Proposed ‘Magna Carta’ Yamsuan is championing House Bill No. 4796, or the proposed Magna Carta for Non-Uniformed Personnel, which aims to address the long-standing neglect of civilian staff:
- Pay Equity: The bill seeks to provide salary increases and benefits comparable to those recently granted to MUPs.
- Security of Tenure: Section 14 ensures that NUPs cannot be terminated without just cause and due process, providing much-needed job security.
- Professional Development: The bill proposes a Human Resource Development Program that includes merit-based promotions, in-service training, scholarships, and incentive systems.
- Gender Fairness: The promotion system is designed to be gender-fair, ensuring equal opportunities for female civilian personnel.
Critical Support Roles Yamsuan, a former assistant secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), emphasized that NUPs are “indispensable” to the operational effectiveness of agencies like the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of National Defense (DND).
- Workload Protection: Sections 15 and 16 protect NUPs from overloading and understaffing, ensuring a sustainable ratio of personnel to workload.
- Anti-Discrimination: The bill prohibits discrimination based on age, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or religious beliefs.
Context of MUP Hikes The call for NUP reform comes after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced in December 2025 a base pay hike for MUPs, set to be implemented in three tranches starting in 2026. While the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allocated P21.7 billion for the MUP salary increase, Yamsuan noted that NUPs—some of whom have served for over 30 years—often see little to no financial progress throughout their careers.
“The hard work and dedication of many NUPs go unrecognized,” Yamsuan stated. “When passed into law, the Magna Carta would help professionalize the public safety workforce and boost the morale of our civilian personnel.”
The bill is currently pending in the House, where Yamsuan and other advocates hope to secure its passage to align with the broader administration goal of professionalizing and supporting the country’s security and safety sectors.