Legal authority and references
- The President issued the decree as Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines pursuant to the Constitution and relevant presidential powers.
- The decree cites Proclamation No. 1081 (September 21, 1972), General Order No. 1 (September 22, 1972), and Proclamation No. 1104 (January 17, 1973) as the basis for authority.
- The decree amends paragraph 7, AFP Special Provisions, Presidential Decree No. 233, General Appropriations, Fiscal Year 1973–1974.
- The decree repeals General Order No. 14 (October 3, 1972).
Policy and purpose
- The decree increases the daily subsistence allowance for AFP personnel because the existing basic allowance of P5.00 is not adequate to meet the prevailing cost of prime commodities.
- The decree frames the allowance increase as necessary to provide nutrition to maintain high levels of physical fitness and efficiency of AFP personnel in suppressing criminal conspiracy and/or eradicating lawlessness, anarchy, disorder, and wanton destruction of lives and property.
Core allowance increase rule
- Paragraph 7 is amended by authorizing and prescribing a basic daily subsistence allowance of not less than six pesos (P6.00) for each officer and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
- The P6.00 basic daily subsistence allowance applies to AFP members including cadets and trainees while on training.
- The decree shifts the basic allowance from five pesos (P5.00) to not less than six pesos (P6.00) for coverage of AFP personnel under paragraph 7.
Coverage and training-equivalent entitlement
- The P6.00 basic daily subsistence allowance applies not only to Regular Force members but also to:
- Cadets of the PMA and PAFFS;
- Trainees undergoing military training pursuant to Republic Act No. 4091;
- Probationary Second Lieutenants/Ensigns;
- ROTC Cadets on Summer Camp Training;
- Reserve officers and enlisted reservists undergoing training or assembly/mobilization tests.
- These persons are entitled to the same basic daily subsistence allowance authorized to members of the Regular Force while on such training.
Additional subsistence for alert sites and sea duty
- The decree authorizes an additional subsistence allowance for specified personnel when on duty at alert or isolated installations and for certain sea duty situations.
- Additional allowance is payable to:
- Officers, enlisted personnel, Probationary Second Lieutenants/Ensigns, draftees, and trainees on duty at AFP Long Lines relay sites, Air Defense Alert Centers, Air Rescue Alert Centers, Military Sealift and Terminal Command, and other alert centers.
- Additional allowance also applies at isolated stations/sites/areas where personnel are on twenty-four-hour alert status that may be declared by the Chief of Staff, AFP.
- For these alert and isolated-duty cases, the decree sets limits:
- Rates must not exceed P1.00 per day.
- For sea duty, the decree sets specific rates for PN officers, Probationary Ensigns, and enlisted personnel:
- P2.00 per day for officers;
- P1.00 per day for enlisted personnel;
- Applies to draftees and 20-year-old trainees (at the same enlisted personnel daily rate stated for enlisted personnel).
Repeals and conflict rule
- The decree repeals General Order No. 14 (dated October 3, 1972).
- The decree also provides that all provisions of existing laws and decrees in conflict with Presidential Decree No. 397 are repealed.