FIFTEENTH 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__1728

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 their 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 instilled 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), Fernando 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 modernized Philippine
Air Force. And even after retirement or separation from the military service the
degrees earned in the Academy, which are accredited by CHED, will be
usable throughout life.

¢

RUFYS B. RODRIBUEZ

La

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH 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. 1728

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 of 2010.”

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/School 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
tendered 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.


¢. 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 AFP.

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.

f,  PAFA~Philippine Air Force Academy.

g. _ Regular Officer — a commissioned officer in the regular forces of
the AFP appointed as such by the President of the Republic of the
Philippines.

h. Reserve Officer — a commissioned officer in the Reserve Force of
the AFP.

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


ji) 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, a
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 itis 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 shall 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 School 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. — |f 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,