FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The bill seeks to provide for the establishment of educational assistance and 
training programs for the enlisted personnel in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 
Under this measure, the beneficiaries shall have the luxury of choosing to undertake 
four-year diploma courses or short-term courses intended to enhance their competence 
and skills in performing their duties while on active service and to improve their chances 
of getting hired after their tour of duty. In the appraisal for promotions, attendance to the 
abovementioned courses will be considered aside from the meritorious services 
rendered by the enlisted personnel. 
In cases where an enlisted personnel elects not to avail of the program, slhe can 
transfer such entitlement to hidher spouse or dependents. If a member dies while on 
active duty, the remaining years of hislher educational assistance may be availed by the 
surviving spouse or dependent children. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
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S E N A T E  
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHINO AN EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING 
PROGRAM FOR ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE ARMED FORCES OF 
THE PHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress Assembled: 
SECTION 
1. 
Title. - 
This Act shall be known as the “AFP 
Education and Training Assistance Act of 2007. ” 
SEC. 2. 
Declamtion of Policy. - To encourage enlistments for service on 
active duty in the armed forces, the Department of National Defense shall establish a 
program that will provide educational assistance to all qualified enlisted personnel. This 
is in accordance with Article XVI, Sec. 5(2) of the Philippine Constitution which provides 
that the State shall strengthen the patriotic spirit and nationalist consciousness of the 
military, and respect for peoples’ rights in the performance of their duty. 
SEC. 3. 
definitions shall apply: 
Definition of Terms. - For the purpose of this Act the following 
Enlisted Personnel -those belonging to the following grade: Private (E-I), 
Private First Class (E-2), Corporal (E-3), Sergeant (E-4), Staff Sergeant 
(E-5), Technical Sergeant (E-G), Master Sergeant (E-7) and its equivalent 
in the Air Force, Navy and Marines. 
Educational Assistance for Enlisted Personnel - education and training 
opportunities provided to enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces under 
this Act. 
a. 
b. 
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c. 
Dependent Child - legitimate or illegitimate child of the enlisted personnel 
who is under eighteen (18) years of age. 
Surviving Spouse - means a widow or widower who has not remarried. 
d. 
SEC. 4. 
Establishment of an Educational Assistance and Training 
Program. - There is hereby established an Educational Assistance and Training 
Program for enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines which shall 
provide education and training opportunities to those who satisfy the eligibility 
requirements of this Act. 
The program shall provide retraining for all qualified enlisted personnel of the 
armed forces to upgrade their skills and enhance their chances for post-service 
employment. 
SEC. 5. 
€ligi&i/ify. - A person who meets the following requirements shall 
an enlisted or re-enlisted personnel in the Regular Force of the Armed 
Forces of the Philippines (AFP)- Army, Air Force, Navy, and marines; 
those who have served two (2) continuous years of active duty; 
those who have graduated from a duly recognised secondary school; and, 
those who meet such other requirements as the Administrator of this 
program may consider for the purposes of this Act and the needs of the 
armed forces. 
be eligible for educational assistance: 
a. 
b. 
c. 
d. 
Upon enlistment in the active force, all enlisted personnel shall opt whether or not 
to participate in this educational program. 
SEC. 6. 
Period of Eligibility. - The period of educational assistance to 
which a person becomes entitled is one (1) standard academic year (or the equivalent) 
for each year of the enlistment of such person up to a maximum of four years. 
SEC. 7. 
Education and Training Available. - The following education and 
training opportunities are available under the Educational Assistance and Training 
Program: 
a. 
courses at recognized colleges or universities leading to a certificate or 
diploma in an academic, business, technical or vocational training; 
work in an apprenticeship or job training program offered by a company or 
a union; 
b. 
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c. 
a cooperative training program; 
d. 
e. 
a correspondence or distance learning course; and, 
remedial and annual refresher retooling courses. 
Aside from the meritorious services that have been rendered, the annual 
promotion of enlisted personnel will also be based on attendance to refresherhetooling 
courses which should not be less than two (2) weeks in duration. 
SEC. 8. 
Duration of Entitlement - The entitlement of any person to 
educational assistance under this bill expires at the end of the ten-year period beginning 
on the date of his entitlement. In case a member entitled to educational assistance 
under this chapter dies while on active duty, the remaining years of his educational 
assistance will be transferred to the surviving spouse or dependent child. 
SEC. 9. 
Application for Educational Assistance. - To receive educational 
assistance benefits under this Act, a person entitled to such assistance shall submit an 
application to the Administrator in such form and manner as the latter may prescribe. 
SEC. I O .  
Dependents. - 
a. 
b. 
C. 
d. 
SEC. 11. 
Right of Members to Transfer Entitlement to Spouses or 
An enlisted personnel who is entitled to educational assistance 
under Sec. 5 of this Act may elect to transfer all or any part of such 
entitlement to hislher spouse or dependent child. 
If the enlisted personnel described in the preceding paragraph dies 
before making an election authorized under such paragraph, any 
unused entitlement of such person shall be automatically 
transferred to such person’s spouse or dependent children. A 
surviving spouse to whom entitlement is given may elect to transfer 
such entitlement to the dependent children. 
Any transfer of entitlement under this subsection shall be made in 
accordance with the regulations prescribed by the Administrator. 
A spouse/surviving spouse or dependent child to whom entitlement 
is transferred under subsection (a) can avail of the educational 
assistance in the same manner and at the same rate as the 
enlisted personnel from whom the entitlement originated. 
Administration of Program. - To carry out the purpose of this Act, 
the present AFP Education and Training Board under the Office of the Deputy Chief of 
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Staff for Education and Training Policies (OJ-8) is hereby charged with the 
implementation of this law. 
For purposes of this Act, the present composition of the Board is hereby 
expanded to include the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) 
and the Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority 
(TESDA). 
SEC. 12. 
AFP Education and Training Fund. - There is hereby created a 
special fund, to be known as the AFP Education and Training Fund, which shall be 
administered by the Board and from which the benefits under this law shall be sourced. 
The AFP Education and Training Fund shall be established out of and 
maintained from amounts appropriated pursuant to Section 13 hereof, from donations, 
grants in aid and other forms of contributions which may be received by the Board. 
SEC. 13. 
Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement the 
provisions of this Act is hereby authorized to be paid out of savings from the 
appropriations of the AFP for the current year. Thereafter, the sums necessary for the 
implementation of this Act shalt be included in the annual appropriations of the AFP. 
SEC. 14. 
Annual Report - The Board shall submit to the President and to 
the Congress of the Philippines through the Secretary of National Defense an annual 
report on its operations and accomplishments. 
SEC. IS. 
Separability Clause. - If for any reason any provision of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, such parts not affected thereby shall remain in full 
force and effect. 
SEC. 16, 
Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, decrees, rules and 
regulations or part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 17 
Implementing Rules and Regulations. -Within ninety days, from 
the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of National Defense, in coordination with the 
AFP Education and Training Fund and all appropriate government agencies shall 
promulgate rules and regulations to ensure the effective implementation of this Act. 
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SEC. 18. 
fffectfvify Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general application. 
Approved, 
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