President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. authorized a one-time rice allowance for all active military and uniformed personnel (MUPs) to recognize their essential roles in national security, public safety, and peace.
Under Administrative Order (AO) No. 26, which was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on November 7, 2024, each eligible MUP will receive 25 kilograms of rice, provided they are on active duty as of November 30, 2024. This initiative also aims to support local farmers in the agriculture sector.
The order covers personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under the Department of National Defense (DND) and members of the following agencies:
– Philippine National Police (PNP)
– Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)
– Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)
– Philippine Public Safety College
– Bureau of Corrections (BuCor)
– Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
– National Mapping and Resource Information Authority
The rice for this initiative will be sourced through the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Kadiwa Program from local and participating farmers.
Distribution is scheduled to occur from December 2024 to March 2025 at designated National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses.
Authorized representatives for MUPs will adhere to a schedule set by the NFA.
Funding for this rice grant will come from the Contingent Fund of the General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2024.
The DA and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in consultation with the NFA, are tasked with releasing guidelines for implementing this AO within 15 days.
