SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
• \  
. o r  r ' nf l "
■17 
J U N 2 1  
n ? : S 9
S E N A T E
Senate Bill No. 
^
RcClIVi O u:.
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A COMPREHENSIVE BENEEIT PROGRAM
TO ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE 
PHILIPPINES AND THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE KILLED 
OR WOUNDED IN LEGITIMATE ACTIONS OR OPERATIONS AND 
CREATING A TRUST FUND THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This bill finds its roots in Presidential Decree No. 577', Republic Act No. 69631 2 
and the most recent Comprehensive Social Benefit Program (CSBP) of the government.
Given the sad state of our military and police in terms of compensation and 
benefits vis-a-vis their sworn duty to protect and secure the State, and preserve and 
maintain peace and order, it is but imperative that we make comprehensive and 
institutional all reasonable assistance that may be accorded them by the State.
The officers, men and women of the Armed Forces of Philippines and the 
Philippine National Police deserve nothing less than a reasonable and tangible 
recognition of their dedication and commitment to the country, especially their families 
who, when they are killed or wounded in action or operation, are somewhat left hollow 
both emotionally, spiritually and financially.
Essentially, this bill earmarks 20 billion pesos in trust fund to finance and make 
available 5 types of assistance, after consolidating and even expanding what the laws 
already provide, I'iz: a) special financial assistance; b) shelter assistance; c) health and 
medical care assistance; d) full .scholarship a.ssistance; and e) cost of living assistance. 
This fund shall be implemented and managed by a Board called the Comprehensive 
Benefit Program Fund Board composed of the Office of the President, the Department 
of National Defense, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the 
Department of Budget and Management, the Department of Finance, the Department of
1 HM-Mi’i iNG i)i;,i’i:Nni:NTsoi; Mii.ii AKV i,i;ksonni:i who nii:oR bixomk iNCAi’ACirAi i-.n in u n i- 
o r  nuTY I-ROM Till-; payment o r  tuition and matriculation i-ees in public or private
SCI KXM.S, UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES, AN D  O H  lER EDUCAl ION AL INSTITU I IONS. N ovcm lvr 11, 1^74 
- AN ACL GRAN LING SPECIAL EINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AN D  BI:NEEHS TO 1 HE EAMILY OR BENEFICIARY 
OF ANY POLICE OR M ILITARY PERSONNEL OR FIREMAN KILLED OR PERMANENTLY INCAPACITATED 
\VI IM F IN Tl if: PF;RF0RMANCF o f  I IIS DU FY OR BY RE.AStIN OF' I IIS OFFICE OR POSH ION AN D  FOR 
( ’)HIF:R p u r p o s e s . S'plomBor 4, I^HH)


Social Welfare and Development, the Commission on Higher Education, the Armed 
Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.
The gallantry, bravery and heroism in making the ultimate sacrifice for flag, 
freedom and democracy can never be understated and to honor the same may be put 
into naught if not translated into reality of according them what they truly deserve.
Hence, this bill is filed for Congress' immediate consideration and approval.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED.


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Second Regular Session 
)
*17 
JUN21 
P 12S 9
S E N A T E  
Rtu./i
Senate Bill No. _ 1491
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING A COMPREHENSIVE BENEEIT PROGRAM 
TO ACTIVE MEMBERS 
OE THE ARMED FORCES OF THE 
PHILIPPINES AND THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE KILLED 
OR WOUNDED IN LEGITIMATE ACTIONS OR OPERATIONS AND 
CREATING A TRUST FUND THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the AFP and PNP
2 
Comprehensive Benefit Program Act.
3 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It hereby declared a policy of the State to
4 
accord its military and police the rightful and reasonable benefit in the performance of
5 
their sworn duty in defending and securing the State, and maintaining peace and order
6 
in the country. Their heroism and gallantry in the service can never be understated as
7 
they sacrifice both life and limb for the country and the people.
8 
Towards this end, it is imperative upon the State to provide an institutionalized
9 
comprehensive benefit program that shall answer the necessities and basic needs of
10 
soldiers, policemen, policewomen, and their families and dependents, especially after
11 
being killed or wounded in legitimate actions or operations .sanctioned by the
12 
government and the State.
13 
Section 3. Coverage and Scope. - This Act shall cover all active officers and
14 
members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National
15 
Police (PNP) who are killed or wounded in a legitimate action or operation.
16 
Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, it shall provide for five (5) types
17 
of assistance, namely: a) full .scholarship assistance b) special financial assistance; c)
18 
shelter assistance; d) health and medical care assistance; and e) cost of living assistance.
19 
Section 4. Institutionalization of the Coniprehenswe Social Benefits Program
20 
(CSBP). - The CSBP jointly established and developed by the Department of National
21 
Defense (DND) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in
22 
cooperation with the Office of the President is hereby institutionalized. In which case,
23 
the policies set by the CSBP are hereby adopted insofar as they are not inconsistent with
24 
the provisions of this Act and subject to the following standards;


1 
a) The benefits to be granted shall include the five (5) types of assistance
2 
enumerated in Section 3 of this Act;
3 
b) The amounts and the applicability for each type of assistance shall be
4 
determined on the basis of the severity of the physical or bodily damage and injury
5 
sustained by an active officer or member of the AFP and the PNP in a legitimate action
6 
or operation;
7 
c) The assistance shall be uniform and equal in each type and application,
8 
and shall ensure that the most reasonable and rightful amount for each type of
9 
assistance is given depending on the capacity of the fund pursuant to Sections 5 and 6
10 
of this Act.
11 
d) The full scholarship assistance shall be made priority and given the
12 
highest amount in all the types of assistance in Section 3 of this Act. It shall consist of all
13 
expenses for education, whether in public or private school, such as but not limited to
14 
tuition fees, miscellaneous and other fees, board and lodging, transportation expenses,
15 
book allowance and similar or analogous expenses. Moreover, under this type of
16 
assistance, the children of a soldier, policeman or policewoman who is killed in a
17 
legitimate action or operation shall be given priority in any applicable law providing
18 
free tertiary education; and
19 
c) Any changes or adjustments in the amounts for each type of assistance
20 
shall be reflective of all pertinent social and economic indicators such as, but not limited
21 
to, the inflation rate and consumer price index as determined by the Philippine Statistics
22 
Authority (PSA) and other agencies concerned.
23 
Section 5. Trust Fund. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, there is hereby
24 
constituted an irrevocable trust fund in the amount of Twenty Billion Pesos
25 
(Php20,000,000,000.00), to be known as the Comprehensive Benefit Program Trust Fund
26 
or the Fund. Its purpose is to ensure the immediate and certain access and availability
27 
of the types of assistance provided for in this Act.
28 
Section 6. Utilization of the Trust Fund. - The Fund shall be perpetually
29 
maintained and shall be used exclusively for the benefit of those mentioned in Section 3
30 
of this Act.
31 
However, for purposes of the initial and immediate implementation of this Act,
32 
an amount equivalent to the applicable types of assistance that may be provided
33 
pursuant to the provisions of this Act to soldiers, policemen and policewomen who
34 
have been killed in legitimate actions or operations prior to the effectivity of this Act
35 
may be sourced from the Fund and accordingly disbursed by the Board, created in
36 
Section 7 of this Act, within two (2) years commencing from the date of the effectivity of
37 
this Act.
38 
All fund releases approved by the Board shall be released directly to the agencies
39 
concerned.
40
41
42
43
44
Section 7. Fund Management and Sttpennsion. - To manage and supervise the 
Fund, there is hereby created the Comprehensive Benefit Program Fund Board or the 
Board, which shall formulate policies, implementing rules and regulations, guidelines 
and other related functions to oversee, manage and supervi.se the operations of the 
Fund. The Board may likewise in its discretion choose any or all of the tvpes of


1 
assistance that may be granted and adjust their corresponding amounts pursuant to
2 
Sections 3 and 4 of this Act.
3 
The Board shall consist of nine (9) members: 1) the President of the Republic or
4 
his/her designated representative, who shall serve as Chairperson of the Board; 2) the
5 
DND Secretary or his/her designated repre.senlative; 3) the DILG Secretary or his/her
6 
designated representative; 4) the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
7 
Secretary or his/her designated representative; 5) the Department of Social Welfare and
8 
Development (DSWD) Secretarv or his/her designated representative; 6) the
9 
Department of Finance Secretary or his/her designated representative; 7) the
10 
Commission on Higher Education (CUED) Chairperson or his/her designated
11 
representative; 8) the AFP Chief of Staff or his/her designated representative; and 9) the
12 
PNP Chief or his/her designated representative.
13 
Section 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - To effectively carry out the
14 
provisions of this Act, the Board shall promulgate the necessary implementing rules
15 
and regulations within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.
16 
Section 9. Retroactivity Clause. This Act shall take effect retroactively in so far
17 
as it shall redound to the benefit of soldiers, policemen and policewomen who have
18 
been killed or wounded in legitimate actions or operations.
19 
Section 10. Repealing and Amendatory Clause. -All laws, decrees, orders,
20 
regulations and policies inconsistent with the provisions of this Act arc hereby repealed
21 
and/or amended accordingly.
22 
Section 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is held
23 
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected hereby shall remain valid
24 
and subsisting.
25 
Section 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
26 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette,
27 
whichever comes first.
28
Approved,