MANILA, Philippines — Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has commended President Marcos for issuing Administrative Order 26, authorizing the one-time grant of rice assistance to all military and other uniformed personnel (MUP).
AO 26 provides a uniform quantity of 25 kilograms of rice to all active MUP as of Nov. 30, 2024.
The DBM and the Department of Agriculture recommended the rice assistance grant to all MUP for fiscal year 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.
Rice assistance will be distributed to authorized representatives of MUPs from December 2024 to March 2025 in designated National Food Authority warehouses.
Meanwhile, the rice assistance will be sourced from local and participating farmers of the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita or Kadiwa program of the DA.
The DBM chief added that this is a good program since not only military and uniformed personnel are helped, but also the farmers.
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.