PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has approved an additional P60 for the subsistence allowance of all uniformed personnel in the country, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.
BACKSTORY: Aquino announces increase in soldiers’ subsistence allowance
In a press briefing on Monday, presidential spokesperson Secretary Edwin Lacierda said that Aquino signed a joint resolution by Congress last Friday increasing the subsistence allowance of AFP and PNP officers from P90 to P150.
Aside from military and police officers, the adjustment will also cover personnel belonging to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) cadets, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) uniformed personnel.
Lacierda said that the increase was due to the rising prices of basic commodities.
“The current subsistence allowance of P90 per day, it was stated, it was no longer adequate to meet the basic needs of Filipino military soldiers and uniformed personnel of the DILG, DOTC-PCG and DENR-NAMRIA in view of the increasing prices of basic commodities. Hence, it was increased from P90 to P150,” Lacierda said.
He added that the fund needed to raise the subsistence allowance of all uniformed personnel this year will be sourced from the savings of their respective agencies and will be included in the national budget later on.
In a statement, AFP Public Affairs Chief Lt. Col Harold Cabunoc said that they welcome the increase in the allowances for their troops.
“It is highly welcome and we were waiting for that to happen for quite a long time. As you know, yung mga sundalo natin pinagkakasya lang yung P90 eh alam naman natin na nagtaasan na lahat ng mga bilihin, so, malaking bagay ito,” Cabunoc said.