SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez today said the House of Representatives will increase by more than double the daily subsistence allowance of the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under the 2025 national budget.
The Speaker made the announcement during the fellowship of the House officials with officers and men of the AFP led by Deputy Chief of Staff LtGen Charlton Sean Gaerlan, representing AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Romeo Brawner Jr., at the Naval Operating Base in Subic, Zambales Friday morning.
“Now, I’ll give you this brief announcement that I hope will make you happy. We, the House of Representatives, have already undertaken that in the forthcoming budget, we shall now include a P15-billion package that will increase, will more than double your 150-peso subsistence allowance to 350,” said Speaker Romualdez, eliciting applause and cheer from the soldiers.
“I repeat, we are more than doubling your subsistence allowance, and that is in due recognition for the overdue increase that we think you have deserved for a long time. And we saw it fit to do this immediately in the forthcoming budget,” he added.
With Speaker Romualdez during the event were House Appropriations Committee Chairman and Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Elizaldy Co, Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun, and Camiguin Lone District Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo.
Speaker Romualdez said the move to increase the subsistence allowance manifests the solid commitment of the House in taking care not only of the needs of soldiers but of their families as well.
“Know that the House of Representatives recognizes the enormity of the problem and is taking concrete steps to ensure that you have all you need to do your duty and accomplish your mission, free from the constraints that hamper your ability to defend our shores,” he told AFP officers and men.
“Alam namin ang mga sakripisyo ninyo, gayundin ng inyong pamilya. Kinikilala namin ito at binibigyan ng halaga,” he said.
“Obligasyon po ng inyong pamahalaan na siguruhing sapat ang inyong kakayahan para ipagtanggol ang ating bayan. Misyon din namin na alagaan ang inyong mga mahal sa buhay habang kayo ay nasa larangan,” he said.
The leader of the 300-plus-strong House pointed out that the welfare of soldiers is important to him and his colleagues.
“You are the most important component of our national defense. It is for this reason that we actively pushed for the passage of a sustainable fiscal framework for the pension system of military personnel,” he added.
“Hangarin namin na maging payapa ang inyong kaisipan hanggang sa oras ng inyong pagre-retiro. Para maging maganda ang kinabukasan ninyo pati na ang inyong pamilya,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Speaker Romualdez reiterated his promise to support the AFP with enough funds to help them perform their solemn duty of upholding our country’s sovereignty and defending our territorial integrity.
“Here and now, I re-affirm the commitment I made in earlier interactions with your brothers in other areas of the country: under my watch, the operations of the Armed Forces, and its modernization efforts, shall continue to have adequate budgetary support in 2025 and in the years that follow,” he said.
Speaker Romualdez also thanked the Navy personnel for being the “vanguards of Philippine maritime security.”
“We salute you for all your efforts and sacrifices to maintain our territorial integrity and uphold our national sovereignty,” he said.
Speaker Romualdez highlighted two measures the House has passed to strengthen the military and the country’s national defense: the bill institutionalizing a Philippine self-reliant defense posture program and the recently enacted New Government Procurement Act.
He said the self-reliant defense program “enhances the capability and operational readiness of the troops by developing and producing indigenous defense equipment, reducing reliance on foreign suppliers.”
“It ensures cost-effectiveness and quick access to necessary resources, tailored to the specific needs of the military. Additionally, the SRDP boosts national security, innovation, and morale by fostering self-sufficiency and national pride in locally produced defense technologies,” he said.
On the other hand, Congress, through the new procurement law, Republic Act No. 12009, which the President recently signed, made sure that the military establishment “is finally able to undertake procurement activities under guidelines that are different from those that govern the procurement activities of other government agencies,” he added.
The House leader ended his remarks by quoting President Kennedy:
“Our goal is not the victory of might, but the vindication of right; not peace at the expense of freedom, but both peace and freedom.”
“With peace and freedom, we can better pursue development,” he told the soldiers. (
