DBM ready to enforce pay hike for MUPs—budget chief

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Tuesday expressed readiness to carry out the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to effect an increase in the base pay and subsistence allowance of military and uniformed personnel (MUPs).

In a statement, DBM Acting Secretary Rolando Toledo lauded the President's push to increase the benefits of MUPs, amid doubts that the measure does not have budgetary support.

"We commend President Bongbong Marcos for approving the increase in salary and subsistence allowance for our military and uniformed personnel, who dedicate their lives to safeguarding the nation,” Toledo said. 

“Rest assured that the DBM shall exert all efforts to support the EO's immediate implementation, which is set to take effect on January 1, 2026," he added.

Last week, Marcos issued Executive Order (EO) No. 107, outlining the updated base pay schedule for all MUPs, which will be implemented in three tranches.

Under the EO, the first tranche of the salary increase begins on January 1, 2026, the second on January 1, 2027, and the third and final tranche on January 1, 2028.

It said the budgetary requirement for the implementation of the base pay and subsistence allowance hikes will be charged against "any available appropriations under the Fiscal Year 2026 General Appropriations Act and other available funds, subject to relevant budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations."

The three-tranche adjustment of base pay applies to all MUPs under the Department of National Defense (DND), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA).

The presidential order also increases the daily subsistence allowance of all MUPs to P350 from the current P150, effective January 1, 2026.

The adjustment covers members of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, PCG, BuCor, and NAMRIA.

EO 107 also directs the creation of an Inter-Agency Technical Working Group (IATWG) to conduct a comprehensive review of the MUP Pension System. The IATWG is composed of representatives from the DBM, Department of Finance, Bureau of the Treasury, and Government Service Insurance System.

The DBM is expected to issue the necessary guidelines to implement the provisions of EO 107 within 90 days of its effectivity.—MCG, GMA Integrated News