EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE j 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES J 
F irst R egular Session 
j
S E N AT 
SB No. 24%
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INTRODUCED BY SENATOR VICENTE C. SOTTO III
AN ACT
GRANTING EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS TO THE 
DEPENDENTS OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE 
PHILIPPINES (AFP), PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP), BUREAU OF 
FIRE PROTECTION (BFP), BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND 
PENOLOGY (BJMP), NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (NBI), 
PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY (PDEA), PHILIPPINE COAST 
GUARD (PCG) AND BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS (BUCOR) WHO ARE 
KILLED OR PERMANENTLY INCAPACITATED WHILE IN THE 
PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTY OR BY REASON OF THEIR OFFICE OR
POSITION
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Government service ordinarily does not involve risk to one's life and 
limb. There is, however a certain type of government service where putting 
one's life on the line is a matter of course. This is the situation of soldiers, 
policemen, fire fighters and generally those who serve and protect the 
general public. Specifically these are the members of the Armed Forces of 
the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire (BFP), 
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), National Bureau of 
Investigation (NBI), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and 
Philippine Coast Guard PCG). They should be given extra care and 
consideration, especially to the needs of their family, should something 
happen to them.


The risks inherent in the performance of their duties should not put 
the welfare of their families to chance. Government must provide for family 
expenses of these government personnel in case of necessity.
This measure, which intends to provide educational scholarships to 
the surviving children or beneficiaries of such government personnel, will be 
the least we can do for the sacrifices of our fallen heroes.
I 
urge my colleagues to support the immediate passage of this bill to 
assure these protectors of the state and the people perform their duties with 
peace of mind for the welfare of their families.
VICENTE Q. SOTTO III


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE } 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
} 
F irst R e g u la r Session 
}
SE N  A J E  
>.B. No.
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*19 JUL-8 R2--03
RECL. 
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In tro d u ced  by SENATOR VICENTE C. SOTTO III
AN ACT
GRANTING EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS TO THE 
DEPENDENTS OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE 
PHILIPPINES (AFP), PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP), BUREAU OF 
FIRE PROTECTION (BFP), BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND 
PENOLOGY (BJMP), NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (NBI), 
PHILIPPINE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY (PDEA), PHILIPPINE COAST 
GUARD (PCG) AND BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS (BUCOR) WHO ARE 
KILLED OR PERMANENTLY INCAPACITATED WHILE IN THE 
PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTY OR BY REASON OF THEIR OFFICE OR
POSITION
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 "Uniformed
2 
Personnel Educational Assistance and Benefits Act."
3 
SECTION 2. D eclaration of Policy - It is hereby declared policy of
4 
the State to recognize the vital role of the members of the Armed Forces of
5 
the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire
6 
Protection (BFP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), National
7 
Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA),
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Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) in the
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maintenance of peace and public order in our country and to ensure that
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the dependents of those who are killed in action or are permanently
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incapacitated while in the performance of their duty or by reason of their
12 
office or position are provided with educational assistance and benefits.
1


1 
SECTION 3. Perm anent Incapacity; Definition - Permanent
2 
Incapacity shall refer to physical or mental ill-health or infirmity which is: (i)
3 
permanent, (ii) prevents a member from pursuing his normal employment,
4 
and (hi) seriously impairs his earning capacity.
5 
SECTION 4. G rant of E ducational A ssistance an d  Benefits. - All
6 
the surviving children of the members of the AFP, PNP, BFP, BJMP, NBI,
7 
PDEA, PCG and BuCor who are killed or permanently incapacitated while in
8 
the performance of their duty or by reason of their office or position shall
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automatically and without qualification be extended full scholarship from
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elementary to tertiaiy level whether baccalaureate, formal or non-formal
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education or training program in a non-exclusive school or institution. The
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scholarship privilege shall include, but shall not be limited to, payment of
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tuition and miscellaneous fees, allowance for books and school supplies and
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allowance for food and transportation.
15 
SECTION 5. Uniformed Personnel Scholarship Board. - The
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scholarship funds collected hereunder shall be managed and administered
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by an inter-agency scholarship board to be known as the Unifornled
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Personnel Scholarship Board, which shall be created and formally organized
19 
within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act. The Board shall be
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composed of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local
21 
Government and Secretary of the Department of National Defense as Co-
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chairmen and one (1) member each to represent the AFP, PNP, BFP, BJMP,
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NBI, PDEA, PCG and BuCor.
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The Board shall serve as the policy making body vested with the
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authority to come-up with the mechanics, scope and limitations, and
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requirements for scholarship program pursuant to the objectives of this Act.
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The Board shall, however, delegate the I'esponsibility to implement the
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screening, 
admission, 
disqualification 
and 
other scholarship-related
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availment processes to the respective scholarship bodies of the AFP, PNP,
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BFP, BJMP, NBI, PDEA, PCG and BuCor, in accordance with the guidelines
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to be prescribed by the Board.
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SECTION 6. A uthority to accept donations; Tax exemption. - The
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Board shall have the authority to accept donations, contributions, grants in


1 
cash or in kind, from appropriate sources, domestic or foreign. Said
2 
donations shall be used exclusively to complement the funding requirements
3 
of the scholarship program subject to the existing govermnent accounting
4 
and auditing rules and regulations; Provided, That any donation,
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contribution or financial aid which may be made to the Board shall be
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exempt from taxes of any kind and shall constitute allowable deductions in
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full from the income of the donors, contributors or givers for income tax
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purposes. Furthermore, the Board is authorized to invest so much of the
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idle funds as may be necessary for the purpose of generating additional
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revenue for the benefit of the scholarvShip program.
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SECTION 7. A ppropriation. - The amount necessary to fund the
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educational assistance and benefits specified above shall be included in the
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respective annual budgets of the AFP, PNP, BFP, BJMP, NBI, PDEA, PCG
14 
and BuCor to be enacted as part of the annual General Appropriations Act;
15 
Provided, That any deficiencies in the financial requirements may be taken
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from savings on the personal seiwices of the AFP, PNP, BFP, BJMP, NBI,
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PDEA, PCG and BuCor and the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Funds
18 
(MPBF); Provided, further. That the Uniformed Personnel Scholarship Board
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may, consistent with Sec. 5 of this Act, identify, develop and/or generate
20 
additional sources of funds to further support this scholarship program.
21 
SECTION 8. Im plem enting Rules an d  Regulations. - The Unifonned
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Personnel Scholarship Board herein created shall formulate and issue,
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within sixty (60) days from its creation, the necessaiy rules and regulations
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for the effective implementation of this Act.
25 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is
26 
held illegal, invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the
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provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
28 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Presidential Decree No. 577 is
29 
hereby repealed. RA 6963 and all other laws, presidential decrees or
30 
issuances, executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders,
31 
rules and regulation or parts thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent
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with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended
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accordingly.


1 
SECTION 11. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
2 
after its complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general
3 
circulation in the country or in the Official Gazette.
Approved,