Marcos doubles AFP subsistence allowance to ₱350

Metro Manila, Philippines - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a more-than-double increase to the subsistence allowance for Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) military personnel.

In Executive Order No. 84 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Marcos said the allowance will be increased from ₱150 to ₱350 per day effective January 1, 2025.

AFP personnel included in the allowance hike are:

- AFP officers and enlisted personnel

- trainees and probationary second lieutenants/ensigns undergoing military training

- Citizen Military Training cadets on summer camp training and reserve officers and enlisted reservists undergoing training and assembly/mobilization test

- Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit

- cadets

The increase will be charged under available AFP appropriations for the approved 2025 budget, subject to the usual budget preparation process.

‘Clear favoritism’

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said the order is a show of “neglect” towards teachers and government workers.

“In stark contrast, teachers and other government employees will receive only a meager daily pay increase of P20 to P50 under Executive Order No. 64, covering 2024 to 2027,” the group said.

"The government’s clear favoritism toward the military is deeply concerning. While billions are allocated to doubling soldiers' daily allowances, teachers and civil servants, who are the backbone of public service, receive only a negligible increase,” ACT Chair Vladimer Quetua said.

ACT warned against the political motivations behind the government’s actions.

The order took effect immediately after its publication in the Official Gazette.