Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 4255 
Introduced by Representatives Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, Andrew Julian 
K. Romualdez, and Jude A. Acidre
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A TEN PERCENT (10%) DISCOUNT TO MILITARY 
AND UNIFORMED PERSONNEL  
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 5(3) of Article XVI of the 1987 Constitution provides that 
professionalism in the armed forces and adequate remuneration and benefits of 
its members shall be a prime concern of the State. This mandates the State to 
prioritize and provide adequate support and incentives to the military and 
uniformed personnel (MUPs) of the country. To heed this mandate, this bill aims 
to entitle MUPs to discount privileges on the sale of goods and services. 
Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) refers to officers, enlisted and 
uniformed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of 
Fire Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), 
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), Philippine 
National Police (PNP), and the Hydrography Branch of the National Mapping 
and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA).1 
At present, available discounts and benefits subsidized or provided by the 
government for the MUPs include: 
1 Republic Act No. 12177, otherwise known as the Free Legal Assistance for Military and Uniformed 
Personnel 
September 1, 2025
3:49 pm


2 
 
• free medical and dental services in government hospitals such as AFP 
Health Service Command, PNP General Hospital, and other military-run 
hospitals; 
• housing discounts and financing through the National Housing Authority 
Government Employees Housing Program through financing acquisition 
of developed lots and completed housing units in permanent sites2 and Pag-
IBIG Fund Special Housing Loan Program with lower interest rates, longer 
repayment terms, and reduced equity or downpayment;3 
• educational scholarships for the dependents of MUP personnel who were 
killed-in-action or permanently incapacitated due to combat 4  through 
CHED Scholarship grants, AFP Educational Benefit System Office 
(AFPEBSO), and PNP Educational Assistance Program; 
• discounted public transport fare in several LGUs such as free fare in 
public railways in Metro Manila; and, 
• tax exemptions as well as attachment, levy, and execution exemptions 
on longevity pay, mandatory allowances,5 collateral pay,6 and collateral 
allowances, 7 and other benefits 8 provided by law for AFP personnel,9 
uniformed personnel under DILG;10  
 
In addition, Republic Act No. 12177, otherwise known as the “Free Legal 
Assistance for Military and Uniformed Personnel Act,” which provides free legal 
assistance to military and uniformed personnel in criminal, civil, or 
administrative proceedings arising from service-related incidents, was recently 
enacted on 15 April 2025. 
 
At the same time, some private businesses offer voluntary discounts and 
benefits for MUPs, such as: 
• special discounts or exclusive deals in retail and food chains; 
• discounted or special rates from real estate developers (Camella, Lumina) 
for uniformed personnel; and, 
• preferential loan terms and conditions from banks and lending institutions. 
 
2 https://gehp.nha.gov.ph/about.php 
3
 https://army.mil.ph/home/index.php/press-releases-archive-2/1700-army-partners-with-pag-ibig-to-
aid-housing-programs-for-military-personnel 
4
 https://pvao.gov.ph/pvao-afpebso-renew-commitment-in-providing-scholarship-for-afp-personnel-
dependents/ 
5 This includes cost of living allowance, personnel economic relief allowance, and hazardous allowance 
6 This includes specialist pay, combat pay, flying pay, air mechanic’s pay, sea duty pay, hazardous duty 
pay, instructor’s duty pay, parachutist’s pay, and hardship pay 
7 This includes special clothing allowance, cold winter’s clothing allowance and cold weather clothing 
maintenance allowance, winter clothing allowance, initial enlistment and reenlistment allowance, and laundry 
allowance 
8 This includes retirement benefits, pensions, death, and disability benefits 
9 R.A. No. 9040, otherwise known as the AFP Tax Exemption for Pay and Allowances Act of 2001 
10 R.A. No. 6975, otherwise known as the Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990 


3 
 
 
However, while several discounts and benefits are already in place, some 
are not available to all military and uniformed personnel; some are offered only 
by a limited number of establishments; and, most are only available occasionally 
or seasonally.  
 
Thus, this bill grants a ten percent (10%) discount on the sale of certain 
goods and services to all employees who belong to the AFP, BuCor, BFP, BJMP, 
PCG, PNP, and the commissioned officers of the Hydrography Branch of the 
NAMRIA who were transferred from the Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey. 
 
Such discount privilege will be applicable in all private hospitals and 
medical facilities; in actual transportation fare for domestic land and air travels; 
on utilization of services in lodging establishments; on admission fees charged 
by leisure and amusement establishments; and, on funeral and burial services. 
 
The grant of discount privileges is in recognition of their service and 
sacrifice, as they risk their lives daily, primarily involved in national defense, law 
enforcement, and the maintenance of peace, order, and security. Not only will this 
provide financial relief and support to them and their families, but it will also 
reinforce that the state values their welfare. 
 
Further, for the purposes of this Act, the discount privilege will be extended 
to the personnel of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine 
Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) due to the inherent risks they face in their 
line of duty, as these two law enforcement agencies also play a vital role in 
maintaining peace and order. 
 
 This measure was filed by Rep. Midy Cua during the 19th Congress and 
was primarily referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. 
 
 In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
 
YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ 
 
 
 
 
ANDREW JULIAN K. ROMUALDEZ 
 
 
 
 
JUDE A. ACIDRE 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 4255 
Introduced by Representatives Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, Andrew Julian 
K. Romualdez, and Jude A. Acidre
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A TEN PERCENT (10%) DISCOUNT TO MILITARY 
AND UNIFORMED PERSONNEL  
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 “Military and 
Uniformed Personnel Discount Act.” 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to 
adequately compensate its military and uniformed personnel (MUP). Towards 
this end, it shall adopt privileges that complement the basic compensation of 
MUP to ensure the affordability of essential goods and services. 
Section 3. Discount Privilege of Military and Uniformed Personnel. –  
All employees of the government who wear uniforms, with ranks, may be armed 
or unarmed, primarily involved in national defense, enforcement of laws, and in 
the maintenance of peace, order, and security and who belong to the Armed 


2 
 
Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), Bureau of Fire 
Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Philippine 
Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the commissioned 
officers of the Hydrography Branch of the National Mapping and Resource 
Information Authority (NAMRIA) who were transferred from the Bureau of 
Coast and Geodetic Survey shall be entitled to a ten percent (10%) discount on 
the sale of the following goods and services from all establishments: 
 
a) On the purchase of medicines, including the purchase of influenza and 
pneumococcal vaccines, and such other essential medical supplies, 
accessories and equipment to be determined by the Department of 
Health (DOH); 
 
The DOH shall establish guidelines and mechanism of compulsory 
rebates in the sharing of burden of discounts among retailers, 
manufacturers and distributors, taking into consideration their 
respective margins; 
 
b) On the professional fees of attending physician/s in all private hospitals, 
medical facilities, outpatient clinics and home health care services; 
 
c) On the professional fees of licensed professional health providing home 
health care services as endorsed by private hospitals or employed 
through home health care employment agencies; 
 
d) On medical and dental services, diagnostic and laboratory fees in all 
private hospitals, medical facilities, outpatient clinics, and home health 
care services, in accordance with the rules and regulations to be issued 


3 
 
by the DOH, in coordination with the Philippine Health Insurance 
Corporation (PhilHealth); 
 
e) In actual fare for land transportation travel in public utility buses 
(PUBs), public utility jeepneys (PUJs), taxis, Asian utility vehicles 
(AUVs), shuttle services and public railways, including Light Rail 
Transit (LRT), Mass Rail Transit (MRT), and Philippine National 
Railways (PNR); 
 
f) In actual transportation fare for domestic air transport services and sea 
shipping vessels and the like, based on the actual fare and advanced 
booking; 
 
g) On the utilization of services in hotels and similar lodging 
establishments, restaurants and recreation centers; 
 
h) On admission fees charged by theaters, cinema houses and concert 
halls, circuses, leisure and amusement; and 
 
i) On funeral and burial services. 
 
In the purchase of goods or services on promotional discount, the MUP can 
avail of the promotional discount, or the discount provided herein, whichever is 
higher. 
 
Section 4. Limitation on Discount Privilege. – The discount privilege 
mentioned in this Act shall only apply to the personal account of the MUP in 
payment for goods and services actually used by him or her. These shall not 


4 
 
extend to his or her relatives or companions who are not qualified beneficiaries 
under this Act. 
 
Section 5. Proof of Identity. – The MUP, including his or her duly 
authorized representative, must present an identification card issued by his or her 
respective agency to avail of the discount privilege. 
 
Section 6. Tax Deduction. – An establishment may claim the discount 
granted in Act as tax deduction based on the cost of goods sold or services 
rendered, provided: That the cost of the discount shall be allowed as deduction 
from gross income for the same taxable year that the discount is granted, 
Provided, further: That the total amount of the claimed tax deduction net of VAT, 
if applicable, shall be included in their gross sales receipts for tax purposes and 
shall be subject to proper documentation and to the provisions of the National 
Internal Revenue Code (NICR), as amended. 
 
Section 7. Penalties. – Any person who refuses to honor the discount or 
violates any provision of this Act shall suffer the following penalties: 
 
a) For the first violation, imprisonment of not less than two (2) years but not 
more than six (6) years and a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos 
(Php50,000.00) but not exceeding One hundred thousand pesos 
(Php100,000.00); 
 
b) For any subsequent violation, imprisonment of not less than two (2) years 
but not more than six (6) years and a fine of not less than One Hundred 
thousand pesos (Php100,000.00) but not exceeding Two hundred thousand 
pesos (Php200,000.00); and 


5 
 
 
c) Any person who abuses the privileges granted herein shall be punished 
with imprisonment of not less than six (6) months and a fine of not less 
than Fifty thousand pesos (Php50,000.00) but not more than One hundred 
thousand pesos (Php100,000.00). 
 
If the offender is a corporation, partnership, organization or any similar 
entity, the officials thereof directly involved such as the president, general 
manager, managing partner, or such other officer charged with the management 
of the business affairs shall be liable therefor. 
 
If the offender is an alien or a foreigner, he/she shall be deported 
immediately after service of sentence. 
 
Upon filing of an appropriate complaint, and after due notice and hearing, 
the proper authorities may also cause the cancellation or revocation of the 
business permit, permit to operate, franchise and other similar privileges granted 
to any person, establishment or business entity that fails to abide by the provisions 
of this Act. 
 
Section 8. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules 
and regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
 
Section 9. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full 
force and effect. 
 


6 
 
Section 10. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,