ROMUALDEZ VOWS TO INCREASE SOLDIERS’ ALLOWANCE

THE House of Representatives would raise the daily subsistence allowance of the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from P150 to P350 under the proposed national budget for 2025, House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Friday vowed.

Romualdez said next year’s spending plan would include a P15-billion package that more than doubles the daily subsistence allowance for soldiers.

The House Speaker made the announcement during the fellowship of the House officials with AFP officers led by Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan, who attended the event on behalf of AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Romeo Brawner Jr., at the Naval Operating Base in Subic, Zambales.

“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,” Romualdez said.

He said increasing the subsistence allowance reflects the House’s commitment to meeting the needs of the soldiers and their families.

According to the House leader, soldiers are the most important component of the Philippines’ national defense.

He added that they will support the AFP with enough funds to help them perform their duty of upholding the country’s sovereignty and defending its territorial integrity.