Hike PDL P70 daily food budget fr. Cop rice allowance
By Nidz Godino
"Non-uniformed personnel are not entitled to rice subsidy... are they not eating three square meals a day?" House Deputy Majority Leader Wilter Palma said with just P70 allotted for inmates' daily food allowance in proposed 2024 budget, called for realignment of rice subsidy budget for uniformed personnel to fund decent meals for persons deprived of liberty.
To recall, an official from Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said in budget briefing of justice department all inmates stand to get P70 in subsistence allowance.
Palma pointed out during Department of Interior and Local Government's budget briefing P700 monthly rice subsidy for uniformed personnel of PNP, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) could instead be used to increase PDLs' daily meal allowance.
Palma said during House appropriations committee hearing there should be "level playing field" among uniformed and non-uniformed personnel.
"On top of your salary, you are still enjoying this rice subsidy…may I give my input, if you could do away with this and realign this to PDL?" Palma stressed.
In response to Palma's question, BFP Director Louie Puracan said "yes" to the proposal but also stressed P700 monthly rice subsidy is "big deal" for low-ranking personnel. Meanwhile, PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. leaves it to Congress' discretion.
Acorda said in recent years, PNP has consistently proposed rice subsidies for non-uniformed personnel "but this has not been considered by Congress and Department of Budget and Management."
Provisions for rice subsidies cash allowances worth 20 kilograms of rice have been provided to uniformed officials annually following 2017 directive by then-President Rodrigo Duterte, source from PNP said.
For 2023, PNP was appropriated with amount of P1.7 billion for rice subsidies of more than 213,000 uniformed personnel.
Just like in 2023, proposed P70 daily food budget is same for all PDLs whether under Bureau of Correction or Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, latter of which is part of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Meager allowance is due to concerns that any increase would drive up food costs for other personnel, DBM explained during budget briefing for justice department last week.
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