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= DATE July 29, 2024

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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Third Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
H. No. 10660

Introduced by Representative Raul C. Tupas

EXPLANATORY NOTE

AN ACT GRANTING CIVIL SERVICE ELIGIBILITY TO GRADUATES OF THE
PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY

There shalll be established a military training school to be named the Philippine
Military Academy (PMA), for the training of selected candidates for permanent
commission in the Regular Force. The student body in the Military Academy shall be
known as the Cadet Corps of the Army of the Philippines (Commonwealth Act No. 1,
Article IV, Sec. 30).

The mission of the PMA is “to instruct, train and develop cadets so that each
graduate shall possess the character, the broad and basic military skills and the
education essential to the successful pursuit of a progressive military career." Its
vision is that “by 2028, the Philippine Military Academy shall have reached the
international standards for military academies in producing principled and competent
Officers."

PMA adopts a holistic view of man as body, soul, and spirit. PMA believes that
future leaders can be selected, formed, and developed to their fullest potentials. PMA
is principally an institution for military leadership and it is from this the total view of
man that PMA's leader development program is based. It contains character
development, a balanced college education, military leadership, and physical
development, necessary to prepare the cadets for the profession of arms and to be
responsive to the needs of the Armed Forces and the nation (Philippine Military
Academy Citizen's Charter, 2023, 1* edition).

Last March 26, 2023, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) administered the
civil service exam to PMA cadets for the first time. PMA Cadets, 297 to be exact, took
the exams. The cadets took the exams, as requested by the CSC, to validate the PMA.
claim that the standard of education that they are giving to their cadets is higher than
the standard of Commission on Higher Education (CHED). is in line with the plan
to grant special eligibility to cadets so they may still serve the country, in the civil
service, and not only under the AFP.

Civil Service Commissioner Aileen Lizada reported that 288 out of 297 cadets
of Batch 2023 passed the Civil Service Exam-Pen and Paper Test (CSC-PPT). This
Frepresents a 97% passing rate compared to the national passing rate of only 16.88%.

The CSC examination results validate the high standard of education provided
by the PMA to its students. The PMA educational program consists of an academic
program and a military program. The academic program is tasked with the mission of
“implementing the academic portion of the Academy curriculum according to the
standards prescribed by the Academic Board." Military Program. The military program
is headed by the Commandant of Cadets and is responsible for the professional



military training, character development, leadership, and physical training of the
cadets. The mission of the Tactics Group is likewise carried out by the tactical officers
who are responsible for the different companies of the Cadet Corps.

While the ultimate objective of the PMA is to provide its students a progressive
and rewarding career as an officer of one of the branches of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, there are numerous instances wherein PMA graduates later decide to join
the civil service and take up positions that requires civil service eligibility. PMA
graduates after retirement from the AFP are also still eligible for appointment and
employment in the civil service.

This bill provides for the grant of special eligibility to PMA graduates. This will
enable PMA graduates to be appointed to civil service positions and avoid the situation
of those who were applying or already hired from being disqualified or disapproved
for appointment simply for lack of civil service eligibility.

This will benefit the civil service and the general public considering that PMA
graduates are well educated in the fields of management, humanities, engineering,
mathematics, social science, information and computing science aside from their
leadership training.

This bill also safeguards the investment of the government to PMA graduates.
This will ensure that the government will still benefit from the knowledge, training, and
rich experience of PMA graduates who left the service or who retired instead of losing
them to the private sector.

Finally, this bill shall ensure that PMA graduates shall continue to exhibit the
core values of “selfless service to God and country, honor and excellence" as they
render service in the public sector.

In view thereof, the approval of this Bill is earnestly sought.

RAUL Tine Types



NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Third Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. No. 10660

Introduced by Representative Raul C. Tupas

AN ACT GRANTING CIVIL SERVICE ELIGIBILITY TO GRADUATES OF
THE PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Conferment of Civil Service Eligibility. — An eligibility equivalent to
a Career Service Professional Eligibility is hereby conferred upon a holder of a
four-year bachelor’s degree from the Philippine Military Academy that will
qualify them for regular or permanent employment in the government.

Provided, That the eligibility granted under this section shall be considered
appropriate for second and first level positions in the career service
respectively, except those which require licenses and/or requiring board
examinations and other special eligibilities provided under special laws.

SECTION 2. Coverage. — This Act shall cover all graduates who have been
conferred a four-year bachelor’s degree by the Philippine Military
Academy.

SECTION 3. Commencement of Eligibility. — Eligibility shall commence on
the date of the conferment of the bachelor’s degree by the Philippine
Military Academy; Provided, that for those who have already been
conferred a bachelor’s degree prior to the passage of this Act, their
eligibility shall be deemed to commence from the approval thereof.

SECTION 4. Duty of PMA Registrar. - The PMA Registrar shall furnish the Civil
Service Commission with a list of PMA graduates who have been conferred a
bachelor’s degree within sixty (60) days after the approval of this Act and within
thirty (30) days thereafter for subsequent PMA graduates.

SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Civil Service
Commission and the Department of National Defense shall, within ninety (90)
days from the approval of this Act, promulgate the rules and regulations for the
necessary implementation of this Act.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders,
proclamations, rules and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof,


inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.
SECTION 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
publication.

Approved,