SEVEM  1:KNTH CO.NGRKSS OF THE 
RKPI BMC OF THE PHII.HMMNFS 
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S. No. 1 4 7 3
iS'JMia'f
Cit l l i t  a  'r :
*17 HAY 29 PI ’42
RECEiVLD b.'.
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillancs IV
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE STANDING EORCE OF THE ARMED 
FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES THROUGH THE RECRUITMENT AND SPECIAL 
ENLISTMENT OF PROVISIONAL ENLISTED PERSONNEL
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II, Section 3 of the 1987 Philippines Constitution slates that tlie Armed Forces of the 
Philippines is the protector of the people and the State; and, whose goal is to secure tlie 
sovereignty of the State and the integrity of the national territory.
The acquisition of military status by a recruit involves a commitment to the Amied Forces of 
the Philippines (AFP), the country, and the Filipino people one has sworn to protect. Thus, it 
is but proper that stringent guidelines be put in place to ensure that military personnel possess 
the necessary competence, integrity and character required by their lofty calling.
In cognizance of the aforementioned declaration of policy, this measure sets standards and 
procedures to guarantee the competence of those who are recruited into the AFP through the 
establishment of a new procurement process for enlisted military personnel while providing 
for their orderly administrative promotion and separation.
Specifically, this bill seeks to accomplish the following objectives;
1. Selectively recruit and retain the best qualified soldiers in the force through evaluation 
of their performance and potential for continued service;
2. Rationalize the pension system for new enlisted personnel through compulsory 
membership to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS); and
3. Ease the transition of personnel denied retention in the force from military to civilian 
life through the provision of education, training and scholarships and a commensurate 
separation pay, as a way of thanking them for their military service. Although a 
substantial number of the provisional enlisted personnel may not be selected to stay in 
the regular force, five (5) years of training, experience and practice of military 
discipline and values can prove relevant in the outside world, and the government 
must see to it that those years will not go to waste.


It is hoped that the passage of this bill will redound to the following benefits: reduce the 
ballooning costs in terms of pay and retirement benefits, and provide for a long tenn solution 
to the looming military pension crisis; and, boost the morale of members of the Amicd Forces 
thereby inspiring dedicated soldiers to consistently meet the AFP's high standards of duty, 
performance, honor and discipline.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
ANTO
‘SONNY” 1 
Senator
RILLANF.S IV


SFA EN 11 K M H  C ()\(;R E S S  OF H IE  
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PIIIEIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1473
v.«, 
ff  t ( !' f i  :,o.\xf
*17 
MAY 29 P I M
RECEli/LD lit
Introduced bv Senator Antonio “Soiinv” Trillanes IV
AN ACT
PROMDING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE STANDING FORCE OF THE ARMED 
FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES THROLGH THE RECRUITMENT AND SPECIAL 
ENLISTMENT OF PROMSIONAL ENLISTED PERSONNEL
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION I. Short Title. -  This act shall be known as the "Provisional Enlisted 
Personnel Act of 2017".
SEC. 2. Declaration of State Policy. 
The Amicd Forces of the Philippines is the 
protector ot the people and the State. Its goal is to secure the sovereignty of the State and the 
integrity of the national territory. It shall keep a regular force necessary for the security of the 
State.
The State duly recognizes the vital role of the military in traditional security matters, 
such as providing internal and external defense; and, their ever expanding role in non- 
traditional security matters, such as humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
It shall, therefore, be the prime concem of the State to ensure that the Armed Forces of 
the Philippines shall maintain a standing force necessary to adequately and effectively address 
present and future security threats to the State.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. -  For the puiposes of this Act. the following definition of 
ternis shall apply:
a. Regular Enlisted Personnel (Regular EP) -  those currently enlisted to the Anned 
Forces of the Philippines with the following grades; Private (E-I), Private First Class 
(E-2), Corporal (E-3), Sergeant (E-4), Staff Sergeant (E-5), Technical Sergeant (E-6), 
Master Sergeant (E-7), and its equivalent in the Air Force, Navy and Marines. Provided, 
That the same are not covered by this Act.
b. Provisional Enlisted Personnel (PEP or Provisional E2P) -  those who are enlisted into 
the Anned Forces of the Philippines by virtue of this Act.
SEC. 4. Provisional Enlisted Personnel. - An increase in the standing force of the 
Anned Forces ot the Philippines (AFP) shall be undertaken through the recruitment and special 
enlistment of twenty thousand (20,000) Provisional Enlisted Personnel (PEP).


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SEC. 5. Tour oj Duty. -  The tour of duty of PEP shall be limited to a eontinuous temi 
of five (5) years, without further reenlistmcnt. Provided, however. That the Secretary of 
National Defense (SND). upon the recommendation of the Chief of Staff of the Anned Forces 
of the Philippines (CSAFP), may authorize the retention of a maximum of thirty percent (30%) 
of the PEP for reenlistment as Regular EP, in aeeordance with and subjeet to Section 13 hereof
SEC. 6. Qualificcilion.s and Di.squalificalion.s. 
The PEP must possess the required 
qualifications and none of the disqualifications for rccinitmcnt and enlistment as regular EP to 
the AFP.
SEC. 7. Training. 
The PEP shall undergo the same training required of Regular EP. 
Provided. That upon graduation from training, the PEP shall attain the rank of Private, Airman, 
Apprentice Seaman/Fireman or Marine. Provided further. That all PEP who attain the rank of 
Private, Ainnan, Apprentice Seaman/Fireman or Marine shall acquire the rights, benefits, 
obligations, and duties accorded to similarly ranked Regular EP, subjeet to Sections 10 and 11 
hereof
SEC. 8. Promotion. 
The rules and regulations applicable to Regular EP for promotion 
shall apply to PEP. Provided, That the highest rank attainable by the PEP shall be that of Private 
lsl Class, Ainnan 2nd Class, Seaman/Fireman 2nd Class, or Marine 2nd Class. Provided further. 
That PEP who attain the rank of Private Is' Class, Ainnan 2nd Class, Seaman/Fireman 2nd Class, 
or Marine 2nd Class shall acquire the rights, benefits, obligations, and duties accorded to 
similarly ranked Regular EP, subject to Sections 10 and 11 hereof
SEC. 9. Salary. 
The amount of salary paid to PEP, regardless of rank, shall be based 
on the current pay grades of similarly ranked Regular EP; and, shall be scaled accordingly to 
accommodate any increase thereto.
SEC, 10. Termination and Separation. 
All PEP shall be immediately tenninated from 
their service at the end of their tour of duty, except for those who are rccnlisted as Regular EP 
under Section 13 hereof; Provided. That the PEP, prior to the end of their tour of duty, may be 
separated from their service on the same grounds as Regular EP; Provided further. That the 
PEP, whether tenninated or separated from their service, shall not be entitled to receive the 
retirement and separation pay or benefits provided for in Presidential Decree 1638, as amended 
by Presidential Decree 1650; Provided, finally. That PEPs who fail to meet the qualifications 
for retention as Regular EPs, shall receive a separation gratuity pay equivalent to one month of 
his base and longevity pay on the date of separation for every year of service.
SEC. II. Training and Edueational Benefits. 
A PEP who fail to meet the 
qualifications for retention as a Regular EP shall be entitled to receive training and educational 
benefits in accordance with the rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Technical 
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Commission on Higher Education 
(CHED).
SEC. 12. Preference and Priority in Hiring. -  In recognition of their contribution to 
the safety and security of the State, Provisional Enlisted Personnel released from active duty in 
accordance with Section 10 shall be given preference and priority in hiring in the Civil Service, 
particularly in the law enforcement services and related agencies (i.e., Philippine National 
Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Drug 
Enforcement Agency, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine Coast Guard, the


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intelligence and law enforcement services of the Bureau of Customs, Commission on 
Immigration, etc.) and the field operations offices of National Government Agencies (NGA) 
and Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC), as well as in the private sector, 
particularly in the security and services sectors, where the training, skills and discipline they 
acquired as fomier members of the AFP are relevant and/or appropriate.
SEC. 13. Rccnlislmcnt as Regular Enlisted Personnel. 
The requirements for the 
eligibility and the process of selection of PEP for rccnlistmcnt as regular EP shall be in 
accordance with the rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Department of National 
Defense (DND) and AFP uiulcr Section 16 hereof The actual number of PEP to be rccnlistcd 
as Regular EP shall be determined by the CSAFP based on the \ acancics and requirements of 
the AFP for recruitment and enlistment of Regular EP during the year the tour of duty of the 
Provisional EP ends.
Provisional EP who are eligible, selected, and authori/cd to be reenlistcd as Regular EP 
shall retain the highe.st rank they previously held at the end of their tour of duty as Provisional 
EP; and. they shall acquire the rights, benefits, obligations, and duties accorded to similarly 
ranked Regular EP. except the retirement and separation pay or benefits provided for in 
Presidential Decree 1638. as amended by Presidential Decree 1650.
SEC. 14. Compulsory Membership in the GSIS. -  Membership in the Government 
Service Insurance System (GSIS) shall be compulsory for all Provisional EP, and all reenlisted 
Regular EP of the AFP under Section 13 hereof; Provided. That it shall be mandatory for the 
member and the AFP to pay the monthly contributions similar to the schedule applicable to 
employees of the national government agencies; Provided, further. That it shall be mandatory 
and compulsory for the AFP to include the payment of the subject contributions in its annual 
appropriations.
SEC. 15. Special Trust Fund: Appropriations. -  There is hereby created a Special 
Trust Fund, which shall be managed by the GSIS, out of which the gratuity separation pay due 
to separated military personnel under this Act shall be paid. Subject to actuarial studies, the 
DND shall include in its annual budget such amounts as may be necessary to build up said 
Special Trust Fund to ensure that there would be adequate funds to pay the separation gratuity 
pay ot military personnel .separated under this Act as the same would fall due. Said amounts 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).
SEC. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ Within sixty (60) days from the 
enactment ot this Act, the DND and the AFP shall issue the required Implementing Rules and 
Regulations (IRR) as may be necessary to ensure the efficient implementation of the provisions 
of this Act.
Likewise within a period of sixty (60) days from the enactment of this Act, the Civil 
Service Commission (CSC) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in 
coordination and consultation with the DND and the AFP and the Governance Commission for 
Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GCG), shall issue the appropriate 
memorandum ordcr(s) and/or circular(s) as may be necessary and appropriate to ensure the 
proper enforcement and ettective implementation of the public policy on the priority and 
preference in the hiring of separated military personnel mandated in Section 10 hereof


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SEC. 17. Scparahility Chiusc. -  If any provision of this Act is declared invalid by a 
competent eoui1, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall continue to be in 
full force and effect.
SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or parts 
thereof, specifically inconsistent with any provision of this Act shall be deemed repealed, 
amended or modified accordingly.
SEC. I9. KJJeclivily. - This act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after the date of its 
publication in the Offieial Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general eirculation.
Approved.