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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS —_)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) fa DATE: 12 DEC 2017
Second Regular Session ) |

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.
House Bill NS BOD

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 eam 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), Femando 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 modemized Philippine Air Force. And
even after retirement or separation from the military service the degrees eared in
the Academy, which are accredited by CHED, will be usable throughout life.

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
‘Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.
House Bill NSS BOD

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 muttiple 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.

4. 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.

CHED — Commission on Higher Education.

PAFA — Philippine Air Force Academy.

Regular Officer — a commissioned officer in the regular forces of the AFP
appointed as such by the President of the Republic of the Philippines.
Reserve Officer — a commissioned officer in the Reserve Force of the
AFP.

= eno


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 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:

{) 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) Atleast eighteen (18) years of age but not more than twenty-one (21) years of
age on the 2” 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. - 2) 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 2 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,