CAFGU FORMATION With Mt. Isarog on the backdrop, some of the members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) members take formation at Camp Elias Angeles in Pili, Camarines Sur province. JUAN ESCANDOR JR. file photo
LEGAZPI CITY — Some 4,000 members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) Active Auxiliary Service in Bicol will receive in December a total of P12,000 financial support for their services to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during the last six months of this year.
Maj. Ricky Aguilar, Philippine Army’s 9th Infantry Division (9ID) public affairs office chief, said in a phone interview that each Cafgu member will get the P12,000 cash aid covering the months of July to December (P2,000 for each month) this year.
Aguilar said the government has earmarked P48-million fund to be used as payment for monthly cash assistance to thousands of militiamen giving voluntary services to the AFP all over the country.
Last year Under Executive Order 69 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, each Cafgu received P7,000 monthly cash assistance until June of this year, but due to financial constraints, the amount was reduced to only P2,000 effective July to December this year, Aguilar said.
According to Aguilar, the old rate would be restored by next year after the CAA budget would be approved and included in the General Appropriation Act of 2020.
Aguilar said that of the 4,000 strong Cafgu members in Bicol, majority were deployed in Camarines Sur, followed by Albay, Sorsogon and the rest in Camarines Norte, Masbate and Catanduanes.