WHEREAS, P.D. No. 397 dated February 28, 1974 provides that all officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines including trainees undergoing military training pursuant to Republic Act No. 4091. Probationary Second Lieutenants/Ensigns, ROTC Cadets on summer camp training, reserve officers and enlisted reservists undergoing training or assembly/mobilization test shall receive a daily subsistence allowance of not less than six pesos (P6.00);

WHEREAS, the provision in Letter of Instructions No. 699 authorizing the increase in said allowance to eight pesos (P8.00) for enlisted men, draftees and trainees; assigned in a combat area, has become difficult to administer due to frequent shifts of personnel between combat and

WHEREAS, the President is authorized, under P.D. No. 985 (as amended), to establish rates of basic salary, compensation and fringe benefits for government employees, observing the constraints of fund availability;

WHEREAS, the current daily subsistence allowance of six pesos (P6.00) is inadequate to meet basic requirements;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby direct, Order and Instruct:

1. The daily subsistence allowance provided for under P.D. No. 397 for all officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines including draftees, trainees, and Probationary Second Lieutenants/Ensigns undergoing military training, ROTC cadets on summer camp training and reserve officers and enlisted reservists, undergoing training or assembly mobilization test is hereby increased from six pesos (P6.00) to eight pesos (P8.00).

2. The provision of LOI No. 699 authorizing a differential in subsistence allowance between those on combat status and on non-combat status is hereby revoked.

3. The funds necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this Letter shall be drawn from savings and unprogrammed appropriations for the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 1980 and 1981.

4. The rules implementing this increase in subsistence allowance shall be promulgated by the Minister of National Defense.

5. This Letter of implementation shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila this 22nd day of December, in the Year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty.

(Sgd.)  FERDINAND E. MARCOS

By the President:

(Sgd.) JOAQUIN T. VENUS, JR.
Presidential Assistant