EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
2803

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 ther 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
instiled 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 earned in the Academy, which are accredited by

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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

“introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No. 2803

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/Schoo! 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
AEP.

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.
‘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.

> e779

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:
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, 2 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 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. - 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 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 shalll 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 Schoo! 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.