In a final gesture of gratitude to the police for keeping the country’s peace and order, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced on Tuesday a more than 100-percent increase in the cash assistance given to families of policemen killed or injured in the line of duty.

The men and women of the Philippine National Police (PNP) are also assured of annual salary increases until 2012, or even beyond her term, according to the Chief Executive.

The President, in receiving a final tribute from the PNP at in Camp Crame, said she signed an executive order raising cash assistance to surviving families of slain policemen from P100,000 to P250,000.

For policemen seriously injured, the government has doubled the cash assistance from P50,000 to P100,000, said the President.

Policemen who suffered less serious injuries will also receive cash benefits from P20,000 to P50,000.

The executive order, signed by the President, took effect on Tuesday.

“This is so deserving because of how you have been transformed, including how many of our policemen and women gave up their lives to fight lawlessness,” she said.

Apart from cash benefits for slain or injured policemen, the President said the policemen can get three more batches of annual salary adjustments in line with the passage of the Salary Standardization Law.

“Not only did you get the first tranche of the salary increase last July 2009, we have also made sure even when I am no longer President you will continue to receive a salary increase every July until 2012,” she said.

In citing her government's concern for the welfare of the police, she said the salary of an ordinary policeman is estimated at P17,000 today, compared to only P6,000 in 2001.

While she talked about the perks given to the police force, the President also thanked the PNP under the leadership of Director General Jesus Verzosa for its professionalism in ensuring a safer country.

With sheer energy and focus shown by the PNP, she said the government virtually erased the plague of kidnapping as a major security problem since 2001.

She recalled her frequent early morning phone calls to then PNP chief Gen. Leandro Mendoza on how to resolve the spate of kidnapping incidents early in her term.

Now that Mendoza serves as Executive Secretary, the President said she still bothers Mendoza with early morning phone calls on various matters.

“I am sure you are proud the chief PNP has become Executive Secretary and Little President,” she said.

She also praised the PNP for its contributions to the global fight against terrorism through closer intelligence gathering and sharing with key allies while uplifting the training of law enforcement services.

The police force was also commended by the President for curbing election-related violence that enabled the holding of relatively peaceful polls last month.

"As a result of this progressive transformation, the people are safer than ever thanks to you, our dear policemen and women," she said.

To enable the government to afford the salary adjustments and other upgrades in the police force, she said her administration implemented tough yet crucial fiscal reforms, including higher sales tax on goods and services, even at the cost of her popularity.

She said additional government revenues were invested in the police force, including the hiring of 10,000 police recruits and implementing a P10 billion multi-year capability upgrading program. Included in the police modernization program are the purchase of new patrol cars, new uniforms, and firearms, salary adjustments, and housing benefits.

"These are all in return and as a gesture of thanking you all for the highest form of professionalism as you supported me in the difficult task, in the difficult but gratifying task of leading the nation," she said. "I am proud of our country's police force. Thank you for your support," she said.