CAA units complement and support the regular forces of the AFP in dealing with internal and external security threats. #Cafgumonthlygrant

Cafgu undergoing orientation on livelihood from DSWD at Camp Jizmundo in Libas, Banga, Aklan. (CAA)

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order authorizing the grant of P2,000 monthly financial support to every member of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) Active Auxiliary Service (CAA).

Under Executive Order (EO) No. 94 signed by President Duterte on 8 November 2019, the CAFGU units must meet the conditions prescribed in Section 2 of the EO to receive the amount.

One is that the CAA unit should be in the roster maintained by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and actually rendering services. However, those who are still undergoing training shall be entitled to a prorated portion of the financial support upon satisfactory completion of the prescribed training.

The current funding of the grant shall be sourced from the current year’s available appropriations while funding for the succeeding years shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act, subject to the submission of the actual number of qualified CAA.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of National Defense shall jointly issue appropriate guidelines to implement the Order.

“The Order shall take effect immediately,” it added.

EO No. 264 (s. 1987) created the CAFGU which, through the mobilization of CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) units, shall complement and support the regular forces of the AFP in dealing with internal and external security threats.

EO No. 69 (s. 2018) granted CAA units financial support of P7, 000 covering November and December 2018, and directed the DBM to study and propose measures for the continuous grant of financial support on a monthly basis.

Pursuant to EO No. 69, the DBM recommended appropriate measures to ensure the monthly grant of financial support to members of CAA units in a manner that is fiscally sustainable and compliant with existing budgeting, accounting and auditing laws, rules and regulations.