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sl NTH CONGRESS
IXTEE! aalgee

)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES \

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
_ Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 2977
EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, being the protector of the people,
plays a crucial role in preserving peace and harmony, by defending the country
against terrorism and other forms of threats, whether of civilian or military
nature. Despite the on-going series of controversies surrounding the military,
particularly those relating to graft and corruption and the continued schism in
the AFP hierarchy, spawning public apprehension over threats of possible coup
attempts, such role could certainly not be denied; hence, proving its
indispensability and importance.

Unfortunately, many of our soldiers begin to get disenfranchised
because their immense contributions seem to be not reciprocated, if not fully
rewarded. Although legislative efforts are undertaken to ensure better pay and
work conditions, many of these initiatives are still pending, and those already
enacted remain unimplemented

Yet, this should not be a reason not to push for more reforms in the AFP.
Many things can still and ought to be done.

The purpose of this measure is to improve the living conditions of our
AFP soldiers by providing for an automatic pay increase to any member of the
Armed Forces who is deployed away from the member's permanent station or,
in the case of a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces, the
member's home of record, once the deployment period exceeds 180 days of
continuous duty.

Particularly now that soldiers are deployed anywhere in the country and
even overseas, given the on-going threats of terrorism, the measure is a
welcome development since it seeks to financially reward these soldiers, which
though merely pecuniary, should be seen as our collective acknowledgement of
their contribution to the task of peace-making. Hence, immediate passage of

the bill is earnestly sought.

Yoh

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.



SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. __ 2977

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR AN AUTOMATIC PAY INCREASE TO ANY MEMBER OF
THE ARMED FORCES WHO IS DEPLOYED AWAY FROM THE MEMBER'S:
PERMANENT STATION OR, IN THE CASE OF A MEMBER OF A RESERVE
COMPONENT OF THE ARMED FORCES, THE MEMBER'S HOME OF
RECORD, ONCE THE DEPLOYMENT PERIOD EXCEEDS 180 DAYS OF
CONTINUOUS DUTY

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 “Extended
Deployment Pay Increase Act."

SEC 2. Pay Increase for Members of the Armed Forces Serving
Deployments in Excess of 180 Days.-

(a) Extended Deployment Pay Increase - A member of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP), who completes a period of one hundred eighty
(180) days of continuous duty on deployment away from the permanent station
of the member or, in the case of a member of a reserve component of the AFP,
the home of record of the member, is entitled to an increase in the rate of basic
pay in the amount of P10,000.00 for each month thereafter during which the
member continues such deployment. Once a member has satisfied the
continuous duty requirement with respect to a deployment, the member is not
required to re-satisfy the continuous duty requirement for the same deployment
despite any break thereafter in the continuity of the deployment due to
authorized leave or other absence

(b) Retroactive Application - Duty performed in connection with a
deployment underway as of the date of the enactment of this Act, but
commenced before such date, shall be counted toward the 180-day period
specified in subsection (a). In the case of a member who completed the
required period of continuous duty before the date of the enactment of this Act,
the entitlement to the increase in basic pay shall take effect on the first day of
the first month beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.


SEC 3. Separability Clause. - if any provision or part hereof is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provisions not
otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SEC 4. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed,
modified or amended accordingly.

SEC 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.