AFP subsistence allowance raised

(UPDATE) PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has increased the subsistence allowance for officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Malacañang said Saturday.

Under Executive Order (EO) 84, signed by the president on March 14, the subsistence allowance will retroactively increase from P150 to P350 on Jan. 1, 2025.

"It is imperative to increase the subsistence allowance of all officers and enlisted personnel of the AFP, to protect and promote their welfare, in recognition of their sacrifices and perseverance, in defending and upholding the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Marcos said in his order.

The president said the current subsistence allowance of the military was "no longer adequate to meet the daily sustenance of an active-duty soldier, which is essential for their well-being and performance of their duties."

The AFP's subsistence allowance was last adjusted in 2015 pursuant to Congress Joint Resolution 5 (s. 2015).

Based on the EO, the increase also covers trainees, probationary second lieutenants/ensigns, Citizen Military Training cadets, reserve officers and enlisted reservists, and other related personnel.

The funds needed to implement the increase will come from the available appropriations for the AFP under the General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Republic Act 12116) and other funding sources identified by the Department of Budget and Management.

The AFP will also include the funding requirements for continuing to implement the increase in its future budget proposals.

EO 84, which was released to the media on Saturday, takes effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.