The  Armed  Forces  of  the  Philippines,  being  the  protector  of  the  people,  plays  a
crucial  role  in  preserving  peace  and  harmony,  by  defending  the  country  against terrorism
and other forms of threats, whether of civilian or military nature.  Despite the on-going series
of  controversies  surrounding  the  military,  particularly  those  relating  to  graft  and  corruption
and the continued  schism  in the AFP hierarchy,  spawning  public apprehension over threats
of  possible  coup  attempts,  such  role  could  certainly  not  be  denied;   hence,   proving   its
indispensability and importance.
Unfortunately,   many  of  our  soldiers   begin  to  get  disenfranchised   because  their
immense   contributions   seem   to   be   not   reciprocated,   if   not   fully   rewarded.   Although
legislative  efforts are  undertaken to  ensure  better pay and work conditions,  many of these
initiatives are still pending, and those already enacted remain unimplemented.
Yet,  this  should  not  be  a  reason  not  to  push  for  more  reforms  in  the  AFP.  Many
things can still and ought to be done.
The  purpose of this  measure  is to  improve the  living  conditions of our AFP soldiers
by  providing  for  an  automatic  pay  increase  to  any  member  of the  Armed  Forces  who  is
deployed  away  from  the  member.s  permanent  station  or,  in  the  case  of  a  member  of  a
reserve   component   of  the   Armed   Forces,   the   member's   home   of   record,   once   the
deployment period exceeds 180 days of continuous duty.
Particularly   now  that  soldiers   are  deployed   anywhere   in   the  country  and   even
overseas,  given  the on-going  threats of terrorism,  the  measure  is a welcome development
since it seeks to financially reward these soldiers, which though merely pecuniary, should be
seen  as our collective  acknowledgement of their contribution  to the task of peace-making.
Hence, immediate passage of the bill is earnestly sought.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS                 )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    )
First Regular session                            )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Introduced by Representative Rufus a. Rodriguez
House Bill No.  53 97
AN ACT
PROVIDING  FOR AN AUTOMATIC  PAY INCREASE TO ANY MEMBER OF THE ARMED
FORCES  WHO  IS  DEPLOYED  AWAY  FROM  THE  MEMBER`S  PERMANENT  STATION
OR,  lN  THE  CASE  OF  A  MEMBER  OF  A  RESERVE  COMPONENT  OF  THE  ARMED
FORCES,  THE  MEMBER'S  HOME  OF  RECORD,  ONCE  THE  DEPLOYIV[ENT  PERIOD
ExcEEDs i8O DAys OF coNTiNuous Du-ry
Be it enacted  by the Senate and  House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION  1. Short Ti.I/e. -This Act shall be known as the  "Extended Dep/oymenf
Pay Increase Act."
SEC 2. Pay Increase for Members Of the Armed Forces Serving Deployments in
Excess of 180 Days.-
(a)  Extended  Deployment  Pay  Increase  -  A  member  of  the  Armed  Forces  of the
Philippines (AFP), who  completes a  period  of one  hundred  eighty (180) days of continuous
duty on  deployment away from  the  permanent station  of the  member or,  in  the  case  of a
member of a reserve component of the AFP, the home of record of the member, is entitled to
an increase in the rate of basic pay in the amount of P10,000.00 for each  month thereafter
during  which  the  member  continues  such  deployment.  Once  a  member  has  satisfied  the
continuous duty requirement with respect to a deployment, the member is not required to re-
satisfy  the   continuous   duty   requirement  for  the   same   deployment  despite   any   break
thereafter in the continuity of the deployment due to authorized leave or other absence.
(b)   Retroactive   Application   -   Duty   performed   in   connection   with   a   deployment
underway as  of the  date  of the  enactment of this Act,  but commenced  before  such  date,
shall  be  counted  toward  the  180-day  period  specified  in  subsection  (a).  In  the  case  of  a
member  who  completed  the  required  period  of  continuous  duty  before  the  date  of  the
enactment of this Act, the entitlement to the increase in basic pay shall take effect on the first
day of the first month beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC  3.  Separabi.//.fy  C/ause.  -  lf  any  provision  or  part  hereof  is  held  invalid  or
unconstitutional,  the  remainder  of  the  law  or  the  provisions  not  otherwise  affected  shall
remain valid and subsisting.
SEC  4.  Repea/i.ng  C/ause.  -  Any  law,  presidential  decree  or  issuance  executive
order,  letter of instruction,  administrative order,  rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.
SEC  5.  Effecfi-yi-fy  C/ause.  -This  Act  shall  take  effect  fifteen  (15)  days  after  its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved'