DAVAO CITY – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has issued Administrative Order (AO) 26, authorizing a one-time rice assistance grant to all military and uniformed personnel (MUP) for 2024. This initiative provides each eligible MUP with 25 kilograms of rice, with distribution slated to begin in December.
Signed on November 7, AO 26 specifies that all MUPs actively serving as of November 30, 2024, will be eligible for this benefit. The rice assistance will be sourced from local farmers participating in the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita program.
Agencies Covered by AO 26 Include:
Armed Forces of the Philippines
Philippine National Police
Bureau of Fire Protection
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology
Philippine Public Safety College
Bureau of Corrections
Philippine Coast Guard
National Mapping and Resource Information Authority
Eligible personnel can claim their rice assistance from December 2024 to March 2025 at designated National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses. Distribution schedules will be set by the NFA and allow for authorized representatives of MUPs to collect the assistance.
“The administration recognizes the vital role of MUPs in ensuring internal and external security, maintaining peace and order, and safeguarding public safety,” the order states.
The DA and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) recommended the grant to support MUPs amid socio-economic challenges and to create economic opportunities for farmers. Funding for the rice assistance will be sourced from the 2024 General Appropriations Act (RA 11975) contingent fund, subject to compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
Within 15 days of the order’s effectivity, the DA and DBM, in coordination with the NFA, are required to issue guidelines for efficient implementation and distribution. AO 26, which was made public on Saturday, takes effect immediately following publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.
Edith Z Caduaya studied Bachelor of Science in Development Communication at the University of Southern Mindanao.
The chairperson of Mindanao Independent Press Council (MIPC) Inc.
