The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said it approved the release of P16.89 billion to fund an increase in the subsistence allowance for military personnel.
The funds, released through a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO), are mandated by Executive Order No. 84, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on March 14, 2025.
“This is a big help to the families of our soldiers,” Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said in a statement. “Imagine, it was 2015, or a decade ago, when they last received an allowance increase. That’s why we thank President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the swift approval of the Executive Order.”
Pangandaman said the adjustment to the subsistence allowance of military personnel has been studied for a long time.
EO No. 84 states the current subsistence allowance for Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel is insufficient to meet the daily needs of active-duty soldiers, impacting their well-being and performance. The increase aims to improve their welfare and recognize their service in defending the country’s sovereignty.