President Marcos has granted a one-time rice allowance to all military and uniformed personnel (MUPs) to recognize their vital role in promoting the country's security and peace and order as well as ensuring public safety.

Administrative Order (AO) No. 26, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Nov. 7, stated that 25 kilograms of rice is granted to MUPs provided they are in active service as of Nov. 30, 2024.

It stated that the grant is given to MUPs for their "invaluable contribution to the country, to assist them in coping with the effects of current socioeconomic challenges."

It also seeks to provide economic opportunities for those in the agriculture sector.

The AO covers Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) military personnel under the Department of National Defense (DND) and uniformed personnel of the following agencies:

• Philippine National Police (PNP)
• Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)
• Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)
• Philippine Public Safety College
• Bureau of Corrections (BuCor)
• Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
• National Mapping and Resource Information Authority

Based on the AO, the one-time rice grant shall be sourced from local and participating farmers of the Department of Agriculture (DA)'s Kadiwa Program.

The rice distribution shall start from December 2024 to March 2025 in designated National Food Authority (NFA) warehouses to the MUPs' authorized representatives. The NFA shall set the schedule.

The funding requirement for this grant shall be charged against the Contingent Fund under the General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2024.

The AO tasks the DA and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), in consultation with the NFA, to formulate and issue the necessary guidelines for this AO within 15 days.