DBM: Over P1B released for rice assistance of gov't workers

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Thursday said it has released over P1 billion to cover the one-time rice assistance to qualified employees and workers of national government agencies.

In a statement, the DBM said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman approved the P1,182,905,000 Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) and corresponding Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) on April 13, 2023 to the National Food Authority (NFA).

"As directed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., we shall ensure the welfare of our government workers by giving them assistance for their household needs and, at the same time, boosting the production of our rice farmers," said Pangandaman.

The Budget Department said the rice assistance will benefit 1,892,648 government workers, including Job Order (JO) and Contract of Service (COS) personnel.

Administrative Order No. 2, signed by Marcos, authorizes the grant of one-time assistance at a uniform quantity of 25 kilograms of rice to all qualified government workers.

The rice assistance shall be granted to beneficiaries who are still in government service and/or engaged by government agencies as of November 30, 2022, the DBM said. —VAL, GMA Integrated News