Lawmaker wants PNP rice subsidy budget realigned to food subsistence of PDLs

A lawmaker on Thursday called for the realignment of the Philippine National Police's (PNP) P1.7-billion proposed rice subsidy budget for 2024 to the daily subsistence of persons deprived of liberty (PDL), which has been stuck at P85.

House Deputy Majority Leader and Zamboanga Sibugay Representative Wilter Palma was referring to the P700 monthly rice subsidy for the uniformed personnel of the PNP, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and the Bureau of Fire Protection granted in 2017 by then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

"The non-uniformed personnel are not entitled to this (rice subsidy). Are they not eating three square meals a day?" Palma said during the deliberation on the Department of the Interior and Local Government's (DILG) P262-billion proposed budget for 2024 before the House Committee on Appropriations.

"On top of your salary, you are still enjoying this rice subsidy. May I just input, if you could do away with this and donate this to the PDL," he added.

Palma was referring to the PDLs under the supervision of the BJMP, an agency under the jurisdiction of the DILG.

The PNP is also under the purview of the DILG.

In response, PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said while the budget provision on the rice subsidy is only for uniformed personnel, the PNP "has consistently pushed for inclusion of non-uniformed personnel in rice subsidy but this has not been considered by Congress and the Department of Budget and Management."

Pressed by Palma if the PNP is amendable to letting go of their rice subsidy, Acorda was non-committal. "We leave it to the discretion of this august body," he said.

BFP Director Louie Puracan, for his part, said the rice subsidy is a big deal for lower-ranked BFP personnel such as Fire Officer 1 and Fire Officer 2.

Palma, however, insisted on a categorical response.

Puracan eventually agreed to Palma’s suggestion.

The BJMP is also in favor of Palma's suggestion since it will address their demand for an additional budget for PDLs. —KBK, GMA Integrated News