PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has approved the P7,000 monthly cash grant for November and December to members of militia group Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu).

Each member of Cafgu Active Auxilary (CAA) unit will receive P7,000 per month for November and December this year, according to Duterte's Executive Order (EO) 69 signed on December 4 but released on Monday, December 10.

EO 69 provides that only "duly-appointed" CAA members whose names are on the list maintained by the Armed Forces of the philippines (AFP) would be entitled to the financial support, which will be sourced from the 2018 Contingency Fund.

Those who are in the roster of Cafgu members but are still undergoing training are entitled to a pro-rated portion of the cash grants.

Duterte also directed the Department of Budget and Management to study and propose measures for the grant of financial aid to qualified CAA members on a monthly basis in the succeeding years.

"CAA units support the AFP by providing vital military intelligence, joining traditional and non-traditional military operations, securing conflict-affected communities, and acting as first responders during natural disasters," EO 69 reads.

"There is a need to provide financial support to members of the CAA units, in recognition of the ivaluable assistance they provide to the AFP in dealing with security threats, their indispensable service in maintaining local peace and order and meeting local insurgencies, and the faithful performance of their duties, which they carry out at great risk to themselves and their families," it adds. (SunStar Philippines)