MANILA — The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has once again affirmed that the welfare of soldiers and other military and uniformed personnel (MUPs) remains a top priority, as the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) presented the clear and assured funding for their salaries, allowances, and benefits under the FY 2026 National Budget.

 

In a press conference at Malacañang, DBM Secretary Rolly U. Toledo stressed that the 2026 budget is not about politics, but about recognizing the daily sacrifices of MUPs who safeguard the nation—despite exhaustion, sleepless nights, and time spent away from their families.

 

“The message of the 2026 National Budget is clear: we see you, we hear you, and we will never abandon you,” Toledo said.

 

According to the DBM, the first tranche of the base pay increase for military and uniformed personnel will begin in 2026, in accordance with Executive Order No. 107. A total of P21.7 billion has been clearly allocated for this purpose— P15.4 billion for active service and P6.3 billion for pension obligations.

 

“This is not written on water—this is certain, and funding has already been set aside,” Toledo emphasized.

 

At the same time, the subsistence allowance was increased from P150 to P350 per day, effective January 1, 2026. A total of P71.5 billion has been allocated to ensure the continuous implementation of this enhanced benefit.

 

“The increase in the subsistence allowance is not a luxury and not a favor—it is recognition that those who guard the nation must have sufficient food, strength, and daily nutrition,” the DBM Secretary said.

 

 

Beyond salaries and allowances, the FY 2026 National Budget also includes measures to strengthen the ranks of those in service. A total of P4.06 billion has been allocated for the creation of 10,077 new military and uniformed positions across various government agencies, to ease workload pressures and further enhance the government’s capacity to respond to threats, crises, and disasters.

 

The new positions will be distributed as follows:

• 1,358 in the Armed Forces of the Philippines

• 2,000 in the Philippine National Police

• 2,000 in the Bureau of Fire Protection

• 2,000 in the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology

• 1,000 in the Bureau of Corrections

• 1,719 in the Philippine Coast Guard

 

The DBM emphasized that these positions are not merely additional items in the plantilla.

 

“These are not just numbers—they are additional hands, additional strength, and additional protection for the nation,” Toledo said.

 

The DBM added that the creation of these new positions is crucial to ensure that existing personnel are not overburdened and that the country is better prepared for security threats and emergencies.

 

 

The DBM also clarified that no salary increases, allowances, or retirement benefits of military and uniformed personnel will be delayed, reduced, or removed.

 

“The funds that were allegedly ‘removed’ under the Unprogrammed Appropriations were not cancelled. These were merely transferred from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund to the respective agency budgets, as part of the government’s policy to place regular benefits under more direct budgetary allocations,” Toledo explained.

 

He said this move aims to make the release and use of funds faster, clearer, and more direct.

 

The DBM further clarified that the salary increases of all current government employees—whether civilian or uniformed—are already included in their respective agency budgets. These were not removed, deferred, or affected in any way.

 

With regard to pensions, the DBM assured that these are likewise not affected, and that the government has sufficient mechanisms in place, including Special Purpose Funds such as the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund and the Pension and Gratuity Fund, to address any additional needs should these arise.

 

“The funds were not reduced—they were simply realigned to make benefits more direct, faster, and clearer for our MUPs,” Toledo stressed.

 

The DBM underscored that the government’s  under the 2026 National Budget is clear: those who serve will be cared for, those who guard the nation will be supported, and sacrifices will be recognized with dignity and compassion.

 

[END]

 

 

NEWS MATERIAL

14 January 2026

 

“HINDI KAYO PABABAYAAN NG GOBYERNO”: DBM tiniyak ang salary increase, dagdag allowance, at mas matinding suporta para sa MUPs sa 2026

 

MANILA — Muling pinatunayan ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. na prayoridad nito ang kapakanan ng mga sundalo at iba pang military at uniformed personnel (MUPs), matapos ilahad ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) ang malinaw at tiyak na pondo para sa kanilang sahod, allowance, at benepisyo sa ilalim ng FY 2026 National Budget.

 

Sa isang press conference sa Malacañang, binigyang-diin ni DBM Secretary Rolly U. Toledo na ang 2026 budget ay hindi usapin ng politika kundi pagkilala sa araw-araw na sakripisyo ng mga MUPs na nagbabantay sa bayan—kahit pagod, puyat, at malayo sa kanilang pamilya.

 

“Malinaw ang mensahe ng 2026 National Budget: nakikita namin kayo, naririnig namin kayo, at hindi namin kayo kailanman pababayaan,” ani Toledo.  

 

Ayon sa DBM, sisimulan na sa 2026 ang unang tranche ng pagtaas ng base pay ng military at uniformed personnel, alinsunod sa Executive Order No. 107. May malinaw at nakalaang P21.7 bilyon para rito—P15.4 bilyon para sa aktibong serbisyo at P6.3 bilyon para sa pension obligations.

 

“Hindi ito sinulat lang sa tubig—sigurado ito at may nakalaan nang pondo,” diin ni Toledo.  

 

Kasabay nito, itinaas din ang subsistence allowance mula P150 sa P350 kada araw, na epektibo simula Enero 1, 2026. May kabuuang P71.5 bilyon na inilaan upang masigurong tuloy-tuloy ang dagdag na benepisyong ito.

 

“Ang dagdag sa subsistence allowance ay hindi luho at hindi pabor—ito ay pagkilala na ang nagbabantay sa bayan ay dapat may sapat na pagkain, lakas, at nutrisyon araw-araw,” pahayag ng DBM Secretary.  

 

 

Bukod sa sahod at allowance, kasama rin sa FY 2026 National Budget ang pagpapalakas ng hanay ng mga naglilingkod. May nakalaang P4.06 bilyon para sa paglikha ng 10,077 bagong military at uniformed positions sa iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno, upang gumaan ang bigat ng trabaho at mas mapatatag ang kakayahan ng pamahalaan na tumugon sa panganib, krisis, at sakuna.

 

Ang mga bagong posisyon ay ipamamahagi sa mga sumusunod na ahensya:

• 1,358 sa Armed Forces of the Philippines 

• 2,000 sa Philippine National Police 

• 2,000 sa Bureau of Fire Protection

• 2,000 sa Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 

• 1,000 sa Bureau of Corrections 

• 1,719 sa Philippine Coast Guard

 

Binigyang-diin din ng DBM na ang mga posisyong ito ay hindi basta dagdag bilang sa plantilla. 

 

“Hindi lang ito numero—ito ay karagdagang kamay, karagdagang lakas, at karagdagang proteksyon para sa bayan,” ani Toledo.

 

Dagdag pa ng DBM, mahalaga ang paglikha ng mga bagong posisyon upang masigurong hindi nalulunod sa trabaho ang kasalukuyang mga kawani, at mas handa ang bansa sa mga banta sa seguridad at emerhensiya.

 

 

Nilinaw din ng DBM na walang maaantala, mawawala, o mababawasan sa salary increases, allowance, at retirement benefits ng military at uniformed personnel.

 

“Ang mga pondong sinasabing “naalis” umano sa ilalim ng Unprogrammed Appropriations ay hindi kinansela. Ang mga ito ay inilipat lamang mula sa Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund patungo sa mismong budget ng kani-kanilang ahensya, bilang bahagi ng patakaran ng pamahalaan na ilagay ang regular na benepisyo sa mas direktang budgetary allocation,” ani Toledo

 

Aniya, layunin nito na gawing mas mabilis, mas malinaw, at mas direkta ang paglabas at paggamit ng pondo.

 

Nilinaw rin ng DBM na ang salary increases ng lahat ng kasalukuyang kawani ng gobyerno— civilian man o uniformed— ay nakapaloob na sa budget ng kani-kanilang ahensya. Hindi ito tinanggal, hindi ipinagpaliban, at hindi maaapektuhan.

 

Pagdating naman sa pensyon, tiniyak din ng DBM na hindi ito apektado, at may sapat na mekanismo ang pamahalaan, kabilang ang Special Purpose Funds tulad ng Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund at Pension and Gratuity Fund, upang tugunan ang anumang karagdagang pangangailangan kung kinakailangan.

 

“Hindi binawasan ang pondo—iniayos lang para mas diretso, mas mabilis, at mas malinaw ang benepisyo para sa ating mga MUPs,” diin ni Toledo.  

 

Binigyang-diin ng DBM na malinaw ang paninindigan ng pamahalaan sa ilalim ng 2026 National Budget: ang naglilingkod ay aalagaan, ang nagbabantay sa bayan ay susuportahan, at ang sakripisyo ay kikilalanin nang may dignidad at malasakit.

 

[END]