President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Administrative Order (AO) 26, authorizing the one-time grant of rice assistance to all military and uniformed personnel (MUP) for 2024.

Under AO 26 inked by Marcos on Nov. 7, a uniform quantity of 25 kilograms of rice will be given to each MUP who is in active service as of Nov. 30.

The one-time rice assistance will be sourced from local and participating farmers of the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita or Kadiwa program of the Department of Agriculture (DA), according to AO 26.

The distribution of rice to authorized representatives of MUPs will be from December 2024 to March 2025, depending on the schedule set by the National Food Authority (NFA) in designated warehouses.

AO 26 covers the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail and Management and Penology, Philippine Public Safety College, Bureau of Corrections, Philippine Coast Guard, and National Mapping and Resource Information Authority.

“The administration recognizes the vital role of MUPs in providing internal and external security, promoting peace and order, and ensuring public safety through the implementation of various programs and initiatives,” the order read.

The DA and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) recommended the grant of one-time rice assistance to all MUPs for 2024 “in recognition of their invaluable contribution to the country, to assist them in coping with the effects of the current socio-economic challenges, and to likewise provide economic opportunities for those in the agriculture.”

The funding requirement for the grant of the rice assistance to MUPs will be charged against the contingent fund under Republic Act 11975 or the General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2024, subject to compliance with relevant laws, rules, and regulations.

Within 15 days from the effectivity of AO 26, the DA and the DBM, in consultation with the NFA, are mandated to formulate and issue the necessary rules and guidelines for the effective implementation of the order, including the efficient and effective mechanisms for the distribution of the abovementioned rice assistance.

AO 26, a copy of which was made public on Saturday, takes effect immediately following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. (PNA)