On Tuesday 4 July 2017, President Danilo Medina inaugurated several government-sponsored housing projects, including a government retirement home that will cater to senior citizens and single and multiunit houses for members of the military.
In addition, the President raffled off 208 free homes and announced salary increases for the 53,000 members of the Armed Forces. Lieutenant General Ruben Paulino Sem explained that the salary increase would amount to a 30% increase for privates and up to a 20% increase for sergeant majors and underlings. Majors, lieutenant commanders, lieutenant colonels and frigate captains will receive a 15% raise. Colonels and naval captains will have salary increases of 25%, while high officials and admirals will see their monthly paychecks increase by10%. Generals will make a base salary of RD$150,000 as of July 2017.
Paulino went on to say that there would be incentives and adequate compensation packages for military service personnel, depending on the level of risk and quality of service. This means that a private who currently earns RD$7,000 a month could earn RD$16,072 a month and a naval captain or colonel would go from RD$23,500 a month to RS$41,371.
Diario Libre highlights that now the wages of the military will be superior to those in the Police.
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Diario Libre
5 July 2017
