NINETEENTH CONGRESS  
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session  
 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Existence of strong checks and balances in government is essential to preserve democracy.  
And this practice of checks and balances should also be developed in the National Security Agencies 
and the Armed Services, since these agencies are among the protectors of the people and State.   
The State therefore must promote the multiple sourcing of regular officers of the AFP from 
Filipino citizens of diverse culture and institutions.  Thus, there shall be established in the Philippine Air 
Force an educational institution to be known as the Philippine Air Force Academy (PAFA) hereinafter 
referred to as the Academy, for instruction and preparation for military service of the Philippine Air Force 
Cadets, to be known as Aviation Cadets.  This instruction is a 2-year program in the Academy based 
on entry of students from the General College Education (GCE) requirements as established by the 
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) leading to the award of a four-year baccalaureate degree; 
major courses for respective degrees shall be taught in the Academy together with the officer and 
aviation fields training.  Graduates shall be awarded baccalaureate degrees and commissioned as 
regular officers of AFP. 
The GCE requirement is basic to all 4-year baccalaureate degrees as determined by CHED.  A 
candidate who has completed the GCE brings with him into the Academy the wealth of experience 
necessary to broaden his perspectives in academics as well as his outlook among all cultures. The 
young men and women who are bright and come from the minority groups can earn their General 
College Education units required for entry into the Academy through scholarships existing in any 
government recognized colleges and universities, NGO’s, GSIS and SSS. Their experiences and 
academic disciplines in social sciences obtained from the colleges and universities will hasten their 
maturity and will give them wider and better perspectives on what kind of a career they really would like 
to pursue and how to serve the country and the people.   Furthermore, with the military training and 
discipline added to their highly technical expertise in aviation and related fields obtained and instilled in 
the Academy, performance of their mission and exercise of leadership will be more balanced and 
matured.  
The present assets of the Philippine Air Force Flying School (PAFFS), the PAF Officers 
Candidate School (OCS) and the PAF Technical School such as barracks, dormitories, office buildings, 
classrooms, technical equipment and other facilities necessary for training already exist at the Air 
Education and Training Command (AETC), Fernando Air Base Lipa, City.  These assets can be 
transferred to the Academy.  The present budget of the PAF is enough to start, sustain and operate the 
Academy.  If ever there will be expenses to be incurred it will just be for salaries and accommodation 
of civilian professors and civilian employees.  Majority of the instructors will be officers in the PAF. 
Future expansions and upgrading of the Academy will be budgeted by Congress. Also having a 2-year 
program in the Academy will be cheaper than a 4-year program. The Academy experiences of the 
Aviation Cadets plus the military discipline instilled in them will make them good leaders in the AFP and 
the country as well.  From these graduates will be pilots and other aviation field officers who will man 
the modernized Philippine Air Force. And even after retirement or separation from the military service 
the degrees earned in the Academy, which are accredited by CHED, will be usable throughout life. 
 RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
November 24, 2022
6:08 pm
6392


NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE ACADEMY (PAFA) AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1.  Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Air Force Academy 
Act.” 
SEC. 2.  Declaration of State Policy.  – It is hereby declared that the State shall promote 
multiple sourcing of regular officers of the AFP from diverse military institutions of the major 
services of AFP including the Coast Guard Academy/School that may be established in the 
future.  This State policy conforms to the policy of developing checks and balances in a 
democratic country like ours not only in the government bureaucracy but also in the defense 
and national security agencies. 
SEC. 3.  Applicability. - The provision of this Act shall apply to the AFP in so far as to the 
establishment of the Philippine Air Force Academy; admission of cadets, who shall be known 
and called as Aviation Cadets; organization and administration of the Academy; appointment 
to the regular force as officers in the AFP from those who successfully completed the academic 
and officer training in the academy, the composition of the Corps of Aviation Cadets; 
composition of the Academic Board and Faculty members. 
SEC. 4.  Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms are hereby 
defined: 
a.
Active Commission Service – A period of the active service rendered by an
individual as commissioned officer.
b.
Aviation Cadet – a cadet in the Philippine Air Force Academy who is pursuing a
baccalaureate degree and being trained as an officer of the AFP specializing in the
aviation fields.
c.
Commission – a status conferred to an individual by the President of the Republic
of the Philippines to serve as regular officer or reserve officer in the AFP.
d.
CACPAF – Corps of Aviation Cadets of the Philippine Air Force.
First Captain – designation of the highest-ranking Aviation Cadet who will act as
leader of the Corps of Aviation Cadets of the Philippine Air Force Academy.
e.
CHED – Commission on Higher Education.
f.
PAFA – Philippine Air Force Academy.
g.
Regular Officer – a commissioned officer in the regular forces of the AFP
appointed as such by the President of the Republic of the Philippines.
h.
Reserve Officer – a commissioned officer in the Reserve Force of the AFP.
SEC. 5. Philippine Air Force Academy. (PAFA). - There shall be established in the 
Philippine Air Force an educational institution to be known as the Philippine Air Force 
Academy (PAFA), hereinafter referred to as the Academy, for the instruction and preparation 
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for military service of Philippine Air Force cadets, to be known as Aviation Cadets.  This 
instruction is a 2-year program, basing from the minimum academic entry requirements into 
the Academy, that is the General College Education requirements as established by the 
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) leading to the award of a four-year baccalaureate 
degrees; these major courses shall be taught in the Academy together with the officer and 
aviation fields training. 
 
The present Philippine Air Force (PAF) Flying School, PAF Officer Candidate School 
and PAF Technical School shall be absorbed by the Academy including equipment, facilities, 
school grounds and applicable members of the faculty and administrative personnel, as the 
case may be. 
 
SEC. 6.  Corps of Aviation Cadets of the Philippine Air Force.  (CACPAF).  - The student 
body of the Academy shall be known as the Corps of Aviation Cadets of the Philippine Air 
Force or the CACPAF.  The President is authorized to appoint annually, subject to such 
physical and mental examinations as may be prescribed, the number of aviation cadets 
necessary to maintain the Corps of Aviation Cadets at a strength of one hundred twenty (120) 
and not to exceed two hundred fifty (250) at any one time. 
The strength of the Corps of Aviation Cadets of the Philippine Air Force is as follows: 
1) Sixty (60) from the Philippines, at large, which shall be composed of: 
a) 
Twenty (20) selected in order of merit, as established by competitive 
examination from the children of members of the Armed Forces who: 
i) Were killed in action or died of wounds or injuries received   or     
diseases contracted in or preexisting injury or disease aggravated by 
active service; or 
 
ii) Were awarded the Medal of Honor for an act performed while in the 
Armed Forces. 
 
For purposes of this Act, a determination by the Line of Duty Board of the major 
services that a death is service connected is binding upon the Secretary of the National 
Defense. 
2) Twenty (20) from the enlisted members of the Armed Forces;  
3)  Twenty (20) from the reserve components of the Armed Forces. 
 
SEC. 7.  Eligibility for Admission. - To be eligible for admission, a candidate must be: 
1) Single and must never have been married; 
2) Natural-born citizen of the Philippines; 
3) At least eighteen (18) years of age but not more than twenty-one (21) years of age on 
the 2nd day of January of the year of admission;  
4) Have at least completed the necessary General College Education requirements as 
established by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) obtained from any 
government recognized colleges or universities or accredited institutions leading to a  
4–year baccalaureate degree;  
5) Have passed and completed basic ROTC;  
6) Pass the competitive national examination given for the purpose;  
7) Must pass the physical examination and psychological tests to be given by competent 
authorities of the Philippine Air Force;  
8) Willing to conform to and abide by all laws of the country and rules and regulations of 
the AFP. 
The Academy shall provide for educational and physical facilities for the recruitment 
and training of women as members of the Corps of Aviation Cadets. 
Women shall be admitted and shall comprise not less than five percent (5%) of the 
strength of the Corps of Aviation Cadets at any time. 
All Aviation Cadets shall be appointed by the President.  An appointment is conditional 
until the cadet is admitted. 


 
If it is to be determined that, upon the admission of a new class to the Academy, the 
number of aviation cadets at the Academy will be below the authorized number, the Chief of 
Staff may nominate, as may be qualified, alternates and are recommended and found qualified 
by the Faculty as are necessary to meet the needs of the Air Force, but not more than the 
authorized strength of the Corps of Aviation Cadets. 
 
SEC. 8.  Academic Courses. – a) Academic courses, which are major requirements for the 
conferment of baccalaureate degree, shall be taught to the Aviation Cadets in the Academy.  
The Academy shall be manned and equipped with the necessary faculty, expertise, equipment 
and facilities to conform to the CHED’s requirements to be able to award baccalaureate 
degrees within 2 years of continuing academic instructions and officer training.  There will be 
no academic breaks except on legal and national holidays.  Nothing prevents the Academy 
from inviting professors and other experts in the aviation and other technical fields from 
existing national agencies, or having agreements with schools, colleges and universities to 
augment its capabilities, nor the hiring of civilian professors to man professorial chairs.  All 
these personnel shall be subject to AFP and Academy rules and regulations whichever may 
be applicable. 
 
b) 
The Superintendent of the Academy shall recommend to the Chief of Staff, AFP, 
individuals who will be designated or commissioned as members of the Corps of Professors.  
Applicable laws governing appointment and commissionship in the Corps of Professors shall 
apply. 
 
SEC. 9.  Organization of the Corps of Aviation Cadets. - The Corps of Aviation Cadets of 
the Philippine Air Force shall be organized along the lines of the PAF organizations.  The 
CACPAF shall have a First Captain appointed by the Superintendent of the Academy from 
among the most qualified Aviation Cadets.  The CACPAF shall have an honor code of conduct 
which shall be used to govern the behavior of each and every individual of the CACPAF in 
addition to the established AFP rules and regulations. 
 
SEC. 10.  Pay and Allowances. - The pay and allowances of the Aviation Cadets shall be 
fixed by the President. 
 
SEC. 11.  Undertaking. - Each Aviation Cadet shall sign an agreement that, unless sooner 
separated by duly authorized authorities, he shall: 
1) Complete the course of instruction at the academy; 
2) Accept an appointment and serve as a commissioned officer of the Armed Forces 
of the Philippines for at least eight (8) years immediately after graduation from the 
Academy.  Entry into the Academy shall be on January 2nd of every year.  
Graduation will be at the last week of December every year. 
SEC. 12.  Aviation Cadet Retirement. - Any Aviation Cadet, who shall, after entrance to the 
Academy and before completion of prescribed courses of training, be found physically or 
mentally unfit for military assignment by reason of injury or disease incident to the service, 
shall be retired with the rank of a second lieutenant of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 
 
SEC. 13.  Commission. - Upon satisfactory completion of the course of instruction at the 
Academy, the aviation cadets shall be commissioned second lieutenants in the regular force 
of the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the relative rank in the order of final general 
standing as determined by the Academic Board of the Academy and approved by the Chief of 
Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 
 
SEC. 14.  Administration. – The Academy as herein established shall be organized and 
administered by the Commanding General and Philippine Air Force (PAF) under the general 
supervision and control of the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines 
 


 
SEC. 15.  Academic Board. - The Academic Board of the Academy shall be composed of the 
Superintendent, the Dean of the Corps of Professors, the Commandant of Cadets and the 
Heads of the Departments to be constituted as follows: 
(a) The Superintendent and the Commandant of Cadets of the Academy shall be 
detailed to those positions by the President from the officers of the Philippine Air 
Force. 
(b) The Dean of the Corps of Professors shall be appointed from the permanent 
professors who have served as heads of departments of instructions at the 
Academy. 
The Academic Board shall have the power to confer baccalaureate degrees under 
such rules and regulations as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines may 
prescribe upon all Aviation Cadets who may hereafter satisfactorily complete the approved 
course of studies.  Aviation Cadets who have finished at least one hundred fifty (150) hours of 
flying lessons shall be eligible for graduation.  
Cadets or Students from other Philippine Military institutions may be admitted to the 
Academy provided that these cadets or students must have completed the necessary General 
College Education requirements of CHED as specified in Sections 5 and 7.  These cadets or 
students, however, will no longer take the competitive examinations nationwide except that 
they must pass the physical and psychological examinations provided for.  Upon entry into the 
Academy, these cadets or students shall be appointed as Aviation Cadets.   Commissionship 
in the AFP for these cadets or student shall be subject to the requirements for commissionship 
as applicable in their previous military institutions. 
 
SEC. 16.  Baccalaureate Degrees. - Baccalaureate degrees to be conferred to those who 
successfully complete their courses in the Academy are the following: 
Bachelor of Science in Aviation 
   
Bachelor of Science in Aircraft Maintenance  
 
Bachelor of Science in Avionics  
 
 
The degrees mentioned above are the initial degrees.  Other degrees that may be 
needed in the future will be conferred provided that the Academic Board shall determine these 
degrees in consonance with the need of the country and the AFP as well.  The Academy will 
develop these courses and the necessary expertise. 
 
SEC. 17.  Prohibition Against Hazing. - Subject to the approval of the Secretary of National 
Defense, the Superintendent of the Academy shall issue rules and regulations preventing 
hazing and prescribe dismissal, suspension and other adequate punishment for violation 
thereof. 
For purposes of this Act, "hazing" means any unauthorized assumption of authority by 
a cadet whereby another cadet suffers or is exposed to any form of injury, indignity, 
humiliation, hardship or oppression or the deprivation or abridgement of rights. 
If an aviation cadet is charged with violating any rules or regulation issued pursuant to 
this Section, the penalty of which is dismissal from the Academy, a request in writing for a trial 
by a general court martial may be submitted. 
An Aviation Cadet dismissed from the Academy for hazing shall not be reappointed as 
an Aviation Cadet and shall be ineligible for appointment as a commissioned officer in the 
Armed Forces of the Philippines until after two (2) years from the graduation of his class. 
 
SEC. 18.  Transfer of Assets and Liabilities. - The Philippine Air Force Flying School, the 
PAF Officer Candidate School, and the PAF Technical School including the members of 
faculty and personnel, records, equipment, assets and liabilities are hereby transferred to and 
integrated with the Philippine Air Force Academy.  Similar assets necessary for training pilots 
now existing elsewhere in the AFP shall be transferred to the Academy. 
 


 
SEC. 19.  Implementing Rules and Regulation. - The Secretary of National Defense shall 
prescribe the implementing rules and regulation (IRR) necessary for the effective 
implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
 
SEC. 20. Budget. - The initial appropriations necessary for the establishment of the Academy 
shall be charged to the appropriation of the Department of National Defense.  Thereafter, the 
amount necessary for the improvement, operation and maintenance of the Academy shall be 
included in the General Annual Appropriations Act. 
 
SEC. 21.  Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is held invalid, all the other 
provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid. 
 
SEC. 22.  Effectivity. - This act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the completion 
of its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.  
 
Approved,