Uniformed personnel to get rice assistance

CEBU, Philippines — All military and uniformed personnel (MUP) will be receiving a one-time grant of rice assistance after President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. issued Administrative Order 26 giving 25 kilos of rice to all active personnel.

The Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Agriculture have recommended the rice assistance grant to all MUPs for fiscal year (FY) 2024, in recognition of their invaluable contribution to the country, to assist them in coping with the effects of the current socio-economic challenges, and to also provide economic opportunities for those in the agriculture sector.

AO No. 26 covers the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Philippine Public Safety College, Bureau of Corrections, the Philippine Coast Guard and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority.

The rice assistance will be distributed to authorized representatives of MUPs from December 2024 to March 2025 in designated National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses.

DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman commended the president for immediately addressing the needs of the MUP.

“Wala pong katumbas ang responsibilidad na ginagampanan ng ating mga MUP para sa seguridad ng bansa kaya noong malaman po natin na sobrang importante sa kanila ang pagkakaroon ng rice assistance, lalo na sa mga naka-destino sa malalayong probinsya at liblib na lugar, inirekomenda po natin ito sa Pangulo,” said Pangandaman.

The rice assistance will be sourced from local and participating farmers of the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita or Kadiwa program of the DA.

“Maganda rin po itong programa na ito dahil hindi lang military and uniformed personnel ang matutulungan kundi pati na rin ang mga local farmers natin,” Pangandaman added.

The funding requirement for the grant of the rice assistance shall be charged against the Contingent Fund under the FY 2024 General Appropriations Act, subject to compliance with relevant laws, rules, and regulations. — /FPL (FREEMAN)