NINETEENTCONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. B. No. 913
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
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■22 JUL27 P4 SO
RECEIVED BV. 4
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR BENEFITS TO MILITARY DEPENDENTS, CREATING THE 
MILITARY DEPENDENTS WELFARE OFFICE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 3, Article II of the Constitution declares that "the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines is the protector of the people and the State" particularly in securing the 
sovereignty of the Philippines and the integrity of its national territory as its main 
goal. And over the years, our brave men and women serving in the Army, Air Force, 
and Navy have lived by and stood firm in their mandate of "protecting the people, 
and securing the State."
While we must not overlook the obligation of the State to safeguard our 
sovereignty by modernizing the military, it must be viewed that modernization of our 
Armed Forces cannot only be in terms of equipment, facilities, and skills alone. This 
must also be accompanied by improved benefits for our military personnel and - 
more importantly - their families. As the members of the AFP continuously risk their 
lives to secure a better future for all, it must also be the primary concern of the 
State to grant adequate remuneration and benefits for them.
In accordance with Constitutional provisions, this measure provides the 
necessary framework of institutionalizing benefits for military dependents which 
emphasizes on increasing benefits on the dependents for health, housing, education, 
among others. In addition, the proposed bill also seeks to create Military Dependents


Welfare Office which shall be the main coordinating body for all issues and concerns 
of military dependents.
While no amount of money can compare to the bravery of Filipinos who have 
volunteered to fight for the country, it must be a priority of the government to 
explicitly relay our tremendous gratitude to them through the institutionalization of 
added benefits.
Therefore, expeditious passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SONNY ANGARA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENA
S. B. No. Ms
•22 JUL27 P4 50
RECEIVED BV:
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR BENEFITS TO MILITARY DEPENDENTS, CREATING THE 
MILITARY DEPENDENTS WELFARE OFFICE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SEC 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Military Dependent's
2 
Benefits Act"
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to ensure
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the prosperity and well-being of its citizens through policies and programs that
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provide adequate social services, promote rising standards of living and an Improved
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quality of life for all.
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Moreover, the State recognizes the vital role of the military in the protection
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of our country's sovereignty and should therefore ensure the promotion and
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improvement of the social and economic status of military personnel and their
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dependents.
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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following shall
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mean:
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a) Military Dependent refers to the wife, children and other persons dependent
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on the military personnel for chief support, duly registered with the Moral and
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Welfare Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel J1 of the
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Armed Forces of the Philippines.


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b) AFP Military Personnel shall include all active and incapacitated members of
2 
the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
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SEC. 4. Educational Benefits, - Dependents of military personnel not
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exceeding four (4) shall be entitled to educational assistance in any of the following
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educational levels with the indicated amount of support per school year and
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corresponding durations as follows:
Educational level
Amount of Support
(Per year)
Duration
College
P50,000.00
4/5 years
Vocational
P30,000.00
2 years
Secondary
P30,000.00
6 years
Elementary
P20,000.00
6 years
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8
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SEC. 5. Health Benefits. - Dependents of Military personnel shall be
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entitled to the following health benefits to be provided by AFP Health Facilities
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located in various parts of the country:
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a) 
Free Hospitalization, inclusive of Professional Services, Medicines, and Medical
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Supplies;
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b) 
Dispensary or Outpatient Services;
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c) 
Ambulance Services; and
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d) 
Free Dental Services.
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SEC. 6. Housing Benefits. - All military personnel and their dependents
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shall be provided with the necessary housing subject to the eligibility and priority
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system set by the Major Service/Unit Housing Boards of the Armed Forces of the
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Philippines. Housing, especially Off-Base housing in preparation for retirement will be
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provided additional funding.
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SEC. 7. Commissary Benefits. - All military dependents shall be entitled to
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the benefit/privilege of purchasing tax-exempt merchandise from any of the AFPCES
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units either cash or salary check.
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SEC. 8. Other Benefits and Privileges. - Military dependents shall
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continue to receive all other existing benefits and privileges.
2


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SEC. 9. Creation of the Military Dependents Welfare Office. - There is
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hereby created a Military Dependents Welfare Office, herein after referred to as the
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Office, which shall be attached to the Morale and Welfare Division, Office of the
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Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, J-1 Armed Forces of the Philippines, for the
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coordination and recommendation of policies and programs for military dependents.
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SEC. 10. Functions of the Office. - The Office shall have the powers and
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functions:
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a) To act as coordinating body for ail issues and concerns 
of military
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dependents;
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b) To formulate and institutionalize the necessary system and mechanism to
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ensure the effective and responsive delivery of benefits 
for military
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dependents;
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c) To facilitate and ensure the 
swift 
release of benefits to the Military
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Dependents;
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d) To review existing benefits and recommend the necessary improvements to
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ensure better benefits for Military Dependents; and
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e) To annually recommend to the Department of National Defense (DND)
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appropriations for military dependent's benefits under the budget of the
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Armed Forces of the Philippines.
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SEC. 11. Coordination with Armed Forces of the Philippines Savings
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and Loans, Associations Incorporated (AFPSLAI) and the Armed Forces of
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the Philippines Retirement Separation Benefit System (AFPRSBS). - The
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Military Dependents' benefits office shall coordinate with the AFPSLAI and AFPRSBS
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to facilitate and ensure the release of benefits for military dependents.
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SEC. 12. Appropriations. - The DND shall, every year allocate a portion of
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their annual budget for the support of this Act.
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SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DND shall
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promulgate the Rules and Regulations necessary for the effective implementation of
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this Act.
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SEC. 14. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
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subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are
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not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.


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SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, acts, presidential decrees,
2 
executive orders, presidential proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or
3 
parts thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this
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Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
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SEC. 16. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,