House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

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.

This was bared by House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Friday, Aug. 9 during the fellowship of the House officials with officers and men of the AFP at the Naval Operating Base in Subic, Zambales.

“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 P150 subsistence allowance to P350,” said Romualdez.

This elicited a huge applause and cheers 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,” added the Leyte 1st district congressman.

Accompanying Romualdez during the event were House Appropriations Committee Chairman Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co, Zambales 1st district Rep. Jefferson Khonghun, and Camiguin lone district Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo.

Representing AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Romeo Brawner Jr. a the fellowship was Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Charlton Sean Gaerlan.

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 personnel.

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.

Meanwhile, 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.

The House of Representatives began its deliberations on the P6.352-trillion 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP) last Aug. 5.

The Speaker 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.

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".