HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON, AURORA ENERIO-CERILLES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Constitution is committed to protect life, liberty and property of every Filipino, One
way of making Filipinos feel safe in their country is when they know that the Philippine
Air Force Officers are well-trained.

‘The Armed Forces of the Philippines, as the protector of the Filipino people, has to be
modernized to be globally competitive and to be at par with the Armed Forces of other
countries, especially with our Asian neighbors.

The establishment of an Air Force Academy assures the Filipino people that the country
is producing competent Air Force Officers who can protect the entire Archipelago, With
a provision of self-appropriation measures for modernity, the academy will definitely be
equipped with the most modern and latest technology in the field of air defense and
aviation.

‘Thus, the approval for the establishment of an Air Force Academy is eamestly sought

AURORA (RIO-CERILLES.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. {73

Introduced by HON. AURORA ENERIO-CERILLES

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE ACADEMY (PAFA) AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Applicability — The provision of this act shall apply to the

establishment of the Philippine Air Force Academy which is concemed, with the
admission of cadets, organization and administration of the Academy;
Compulsory appointment to the regular force as officers in the Philippine Air Force from
those who successfully pass the training and the academic requirement in the Philippine
Air Force Academy, the composition of the Corps of Aviation Cadets and the
composition of the academy Board.

SECTION 2. Definition of terms — For purposes of this Act, the following are
hereby defined:

A.) AFP ~ Armed Forces of the Philippines

B.) CHED ~ Commission of Higher Education

C.) NEDA — National Economic Authority

D.) DBM — Department of Budget and Management

E.) ACTIVE COMISSION SERVICE ~ A period of the active service rendered by
an individual as Commissioned Officer

F.) AVIATION CADET ~ A cadet in the Philippines Air Force Academy who is
pursuing a baccalaureate degree and being trained as an officer of the AFP and
specializing in the aviation fields.

G.) Commission - A status conferred to an individual by the president of the
Republic of the Philippines to serve as regular officer in the AFP.

H.) CACPAFA - Corps of Aviation Cadets of the Philippine Air Force Academy,

L) FIRST CAPTAIN — Designation of the highest-ranking Aviation Cadet who will
act as a leader of the Corps of Aviation Cadets of the Philippine Air Force
Academy.

J.) RUGULAR OFFICER ~ a commissioned officer in the regular forces of the
AFP appointed as such by the President of the Republic of the Philippines.


K.) HAZING — under R.A 8049 means “an ition rite or practice as a prerequisite
for admission into a membership in a fraternity, sorority or organization by
placing the recruit neophyte, or applicant in some embarrassing or humiliating
situations such as forcing him to do menial, silly, foolish and similar activities or
otherwise subjecting him to physical or psychological suffering or injury”.

L.) ACADEMY BOARD ~ Governing body of the Philippine Air Force Academy.

SECTION 3. Declaration of State Policy is hereby declared the policy of the
state to keep up with the demands of global competitiveness and protect the country from
the danger posed by terrorism and external threats; to promote the safety of life and
property and to safeguard its resources and defend the national territory, The state hereby
guarantees to provide an adequate and efficient training facility to modernize the
Philippine Air Force.

SECTION 4. Philippine Air Force Academy ~ there shall be established an
educational institution to be known as the Philippine Air Force Academy (PAPA), for the
preparation of future officers of the Philippine Air Force. The Commission of Higher
Education shall design a four (4) year program and the graduate of the program shall be
given a degree called Bachelor of Science in Aviation.

‘The present Philippine Air Force (PAF) Flying School, PAF Officer
Candidate School and PAF Technical School shall be abolished and the functions shall be
absorbed by the Academy including the equipment, facilities, and qualified members of
the faculty and administrative personnel as the case may be.

The whole Benito Ebuen Air Base, of Mactan, Lapu ~ Lapu City, Philippines
including its ground and facilities will be the site of the Philippine Air Force Academy
which has a land area of 100 hectares more or less. And the Head of the Philippine Air
Force Academy shall be called Philippine Air Force Academy Superintendent.

SECTION 5. Transfer of Assets and Liabilities — Similar assets
necessary for training pilots now existing elsewhere in the AFP shall be transferred to the
Academy.

SECTION 6. Academy Board — the Academy Board of the Philippines
Air Force Academy shall be composed of:

A.) Secretary of National Defense ~ Chairman

B.) Chief of Staff of the AFP — Vice-Chairman

C.) Head of Philippine Air Force ~ Member

D,) Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management ~ Member
E,) Director ~ General of NEDA ~ Member

F.) Chairman of the CHED or his Representative ~ Member

G.) President of the Alumni Association - Member

H.) Superintendent of the PAFA — Ex- Officio Member

From time to time this Academy Board shall determine the needed strength of the
Air Force Academy every year, but they should fix the number of the cadets a year
before the final admission so that the Air Force Academy will know how many cadets
will be needed every year. The Academy Board shall also propose academic subjects and
trainings as the present needs or situation arises.

‘They shall also propose the budget for the incoming year and important
matters that would improve, enhance the standard of the institution to make it globally
competitive.


SECTION 7. Quorum — A quorum of the Board shall consist of a
majority of all members. The Superintendent of the Academy who is an ex-officio
member of the board shall automatically become the head of the Secretariat who will
provide agenda, notices, place of meetings and other needs of the Board

SECTION 8. Eligibility for Admission — To be eligible for admission, a
candidate must:

1.) Be single;

2.) Bea natural-born citizen of the Philippines;

3.) 5 feet, 7 inches tall if male and 5 feet, 5 inches if female;

4.) Be at least Eighteen years of age but not more than twenty one years of age on
the 2™ day of January of the year of admission;

5.) Pass the competitive national examination given for the purpose;

6.) Must pass the physical and psychological tests to be given by competent
authorities of the Philippine Air Force;

7.) Be willing to conform to and abide by all laws of the country and rules and
regulations of the AFP:

SECTION 9. Academic Courses — The academic program begins with a
core curriculum that includes engineering, science, mathematics, humanities and social
science and programs that should give the cadet an opportunity to be developed as
an Aviation Officer.

The Academy shall be manned by qualified faculty and equipped with
facilities to conform with school requirements to be able to confer baccalaureate degrees
after at least 4 years of continuing academic instructions and training,

There will be no academic breaks except on legal and national holidays and
other holidays imposed by the national government.

‘The Academy can invite professors and other experts in the field of aviation,
from national agencies or other schools, and other institutions,

They can hire civilian professors’ instructors and other personnel, However,
these civilian professors, instructors, personnel shall be subject to the AFP and Academy
rules and regulations and other applicable laws.

SECTION 10. Organization of the Corps of Aviation Cadets — The
Corps of Aviation Cadets of the Philippine Air Force Academy shall be organized along
the lines of the Air Force organization. The CACPAFA shall have a First Captain chosen
by the Corps of Aviation Cadets among the most senior upper classmen who is deemed to
be the most qualified among them and the chosen First Captain and top officers shall be
conferred and recognized by the Superintendent.

The CACPAFA shall have an Honor Code of Conduct, which shall be applied
to govern the behavior of each and every individual of the Corps of Aviation Cadets of
the institution in addition to the established AFP rules and regulations.

SECTION 11. Pay and Allowances ~ The pay and allowances of the
Aviation Cadets shall be equivalent to the 2” Lieutenant of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines.

SECTION 12. Under taking ~ Each Aviation Cadet shall sign an
agreement that, unless sooner separated by duly authorized authorities, he shall:


1.) Complete the coarse of instruction at the Academy:
2.) Obey the laws and regulations of the Philippine Air Force Academy and other
regulations imposed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Entry into the Academy shall be on January 2™ every year. Graduation
will be last week of December every year.

SECTION 13. 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 continuous academic and military
training by reason of injury or disease incident to the training, shall be retired with the
rank of a Second Lieutenant of the Philippine Air Force.

SECTION 14. Commission - Upon satisfactory completion at the
Academy, the aviation cadets shall be commissioned second lieutenants in the Philippine
Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

SECTION 15. Administration - the Academy as herein established shall
be organized and administered by the Superintendent of the Philippine Air Force
Academy. The Superintendent of the Academy shall be the Administrator of the
Philippine Air Force Academy.

However, it is his obligation to inform the Academy Board of the status of
school, the financial need, discipline of the cadets, the needed equipment and instructors
and/ or professors and other matters in relation to the establishment of the Air Force
‘Academy.

SECTION 16. Baccalaureate Degree ~ Baccalaureate degrees shall be
conferred to those successfully complete their course in the Academy which is the
Bachelor of Science in Aviation major in Avionics, minor in Aircraft Maintenance.

Other degrees needed in the future shall be determined by the Academy
Board,

SECTION 17 ~ Prohibition Against Hazing - The Academy Board from
time to time shall issue rules and regulations to prevent hazing and prescribe measures of
punishment either by dismissal and/or suspension and other adequate punishment.

If an aviation cadet is charged in the violation of any rule or regulation issued
in accordance to this section, a Military Court of Honor shall be established with the
Superintendent as Chairman heading the Board of the Court of Honor and the President
of the Faculty and the First Captain of Cadets as members and upon instance of the
Chairman shall automatically convene to hear cases.

In the event that it is the First Captain who is accused of violating any of the
rules and regulations, the top ten senior cadets shall elect among themselves who will
replace the First Captain as member.

Decision for dismissal should be unanimous and the same is appeal able to the
Secretary of National Defense who within seven (7) days after the notice is received,
shall automatically act on the decision. In the event, the Secretary of National Defense
affirms the decision, the Court of Honor and the erring cadet shall be notified oh his
dishonorable discharge.

SECTION 18. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Secretary of
National Defense together with Academy Board shall immediately convene to prescribe


the implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) necessary for the effective
implementation of the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 19 Budget — The 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 operation and maintenance
and improvement of the Academy shall be provided in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

SECTION 20 Air Force Academy Modernization Fund — Modernity in
Aviation is a fast moving technology and is usually very expensive, if you want to be
globally competitive especially in confronting external aggression, hijacking and
terrorism, there has to be a special fund for this purpose

Tourist and non-tourist traveling abroad who use the facilities of our
International Airports shall pay an amount of P 50.00 in addition to the existing fees and
charges being collected.

All the collections from all the International Airports shall be remitted to the
‘National Treasury and the same shall be transferred to the Philippine Air Force Academy
before the start of the year.

The Philippine Air Force Academy shall inform the Secretary of the
Department of Budget and Management as to the amount collected for the Philippine Air
Force Academy Modernization Fund

The Academy Board is authorized to make use of this money through a Board
Resolution to achieve the purpose of the Academy.

In the event that the money raised through this program is insufficient the
Academy shall request Congress that the same shall be included in the regular budget.

SECTION 21. REPEALING CAUSE - All general and special laws,
acts, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, and administrative regulations or any part
thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 22. _ Effectively — This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation,

Approved.