THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
-94 Jut, -2 /\ (j 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
As the link between the officers' corps and the enlisted personnel, the Armed 
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Sergeant Major is the most important adviser of the 
Chief of Staff on matters of discipline and morale of the troops. 
There is a need to make him distinct for him to gain respect as well as to 
dignify his role as the model of morale and discipline. To achieve this, he must have 
a higher pay grade rank than the other Sergeant Majors of subordinate commands 
of the AFP. This will thus ensure that his authority and responsibility are distinct and 
that a commensurate privilege is bestowed upon his position. 
In essence, this bill seeks to create the rank of First Chief Master 
SergeanffFirst Master Chief Petty Officer (E-IO) for the enlisted personnel with the 
highest rank both in position and grade - the AFP Command Sergeant Major. 
Moreover, and perhaps as important, this bill will rationalize the pay grade of 
both the officers corps and the enlisted personnel because, while the officers have 
ten pay grades or ranks from Second LieutenanVEnsign (0-1) to GeneraVAdmiral 
(0-IO), the enlisted personnel only has nine from Private (E-I) to Chief Master 
Sergeant/Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9). This bill will translate to an equal number 
of ranks to which a soldier may aspire for promotion. 
In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
'04 JUL -2 il8 :42 
S E N A T E  
n ECE WED BY : 
! 
S. No. 
AN ACT 
CREATING THE RANK OF FIRST CHIEF MASTER SERGEANTlFIRST MASTER 
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER IN THE ENLISTED RANKS OF THE ARMED FORCES 
OF THE PHILIPPINES (AFP), APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION ONE. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to 
continuously develop a professional Armed Forces. 
In pursuit thereof, career 
development and promotion systems shall be established to insure a career 
progression of all personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and to provide 
them with appropriate career motivations. 
SEC. 2. Creation and Distribution of New Rank. - The grade of First Chief 
Master SergeanVFirst Master Chief Petty Officer (E-IO) is hereby created as a 
component part of the non-commissioned grades of the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines and which shall be held by the AFP Command Sergeant Major 
SEC. 3. Selection of AFP Command Sergeant Major. - The AFP Command 
Sergeant Major shall be selected from among the Chief Master Sergeants/Master 
Chief Petty Officers under such rules and regulations that the Chief of Staff, AFP, 
may prescribe; Provided, That unless sooner terminated by the Chief of Staff, AFP, 
the AFP Command Sergeant Major shall serve for a maximum term of three (3) 
years. 
SEC. 4. Compensation. - A First Chief Master SergeanVFirst Master Chief 
Petty Officer shall receive a monthly base pay equivalent to the monthly base pay of 
a Chief Master SergeanVMaster Chief Petty Officer plus one-half (1l2) of' the 
difference between the monthly base pays of a Second LieutenanVEnsign (0-1) and 


a Chief Master Sergeant/ Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9). The computation of their 
quarters allowance shall also be based on the same scheme. 
SEC. 5. Refirernenf and Separation. -The enlisted personnel who attains the 
rank of First Chief Master SergeanVFirst Master Chief Petty Officer shall upon 
retirement be entitled to the retirement pay and benefits of 
a First 
LieutenantlLieutenant Junior Grade (0-2); Provided, That he may opt to receive a 
monthly retirement pay, in lieu of gratuity, the computation of which shall be based 
on the same scheme; Provided, furthermore, That upon his retirement, he shall be 
entitled at this option to receive in advance his lump sum annual retirement pay 
payable in equal monthly installments as they accrue: Provided finally, That if he 
dies within the three-year period following his retirement and is survived by 
beneficiaries as defined in Presidential Decree No. 1638, the latter shall only receive 
the derivative benefits thereunder starting the first month after the aforecited three- 
year period. 
Nothing in this Section shall be construed as authorizing adjustment of pay, or 
payment of any differential in retirement pay to officers and enlisted men who are 
already retired prior to the approval of this Act as a result of increases in salary of 
those in the active service; Provided, That retirees who are recalled to active duty 
may have their retirement pension adjusted based on the rank they hold and on the 
prevailing pay of military personnel in the active service, at the time of the 
termination of their recall to active duty. 
SEC. 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the effective 
implementation of this Act shall be charged to the appropriations of the Department 
of National Defense under the current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such 
sum as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the 
annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 7. lrnplernenfing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of National 
Defense shall, within ninety (90) days after the approval of this Act, promulgate the 
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 


SEC 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, rules, regulations, orders, circulars and 
memoranda irlconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 9. Effecfivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days upon 
approval. 
Approved,