Honor long overdue: recognizing the sacrifice of our MUPs

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

- AMENAH F. PANGANDAMAN

It fills my heart with profound gratitude that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved the increase in the base pay and subsistence allowance of all military and uniformed personnel (MUP) through Executive Order (EO) No. 107 issued last Dec. 3, 2025. For me, helping bring this policy to completion as I concluded my term at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is a quiet but meaningful privilege.The updated base pay schedule benefits all military personnel under the Department of National Defense, and uniformed personnel under the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA).

In his message, PBBM honored the dedication, service, and excellence of our MUPs. As EO 107 states: "Given the prevailing economic circumstances, there is a need to update the base pay schedule and increase the subsistence allowance of MUP in recognition of their vital role in nation-building, and in order to boost their morale and maintain a competent, committed, agile, and healthy workforce."

The increase will be implemented in three tranches beginning Jan. 1, 2026; followed by Jan. 1, 2027; and the final tranche on Jan. 1, 2028. This long-awaited upgrade is not an overnight decision by PBBM, but the culmination of 16 months of transparent, deliberate, and responsible work.