FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
First Regular Session 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 889 
Introduced bv SENATOR EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In moving toward the 21st century, the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines has begun the long overdue process of modernization. The 
program of modernization seeks to upgrade faciIities, and acquire equipment 
to ensure that the Armed Forces can live up to its constitutional mandate of 
preserving our national sovereignty. 
However, we cannot lose sight of the fact that a state has an obligation 
to safeguard our sovereignty by modernizing the military; it also has the 
primary duty to ensure the prosperity of the nation and provide adequate 
social services and an improved quality of life for its citizens. 
Modernization of our Armed Forces should be accompanied by better 
and more improved benefits for the people, which comprise it - Military 
personnel and their dependents. The State therefore has the obligation of 
ensuring that the welfare of military personnel and their dependents is 
promoted and improved. 
This piece of legislation lays down the necessary framework of 
institutionalizing benefits for military dependents and emphasizes on 
increasing benefits of the dependents for Health, Housing Education, and 
other benefits. 
Thus, expeditious passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
/P 
EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
Senator 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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First Regular Session 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SENATE 
S. E. No. 889 
Introduced by SENATOR EDGARDO J. 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 House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “Military 
Dependent’s Benefits Act of 2007.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It shall be the policy of the state 
to ensure the prosperity and well-being of its citizens through policies and 
programs that provide adequate social services, promote rising standards of 
living and an improved quality of life for all. 
Moreover, the state recognizes the vital role of the military in the 
protection of our country’s sovereignty and should therefore ensure the 
promotion and improvement of the social and economic status of military 
personnel and their dependents. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act the 
following shall mean: 
(a) “Military Dependent” - refers to the wife, children and other 
persons dependent on the military personnel for chief support, duly 
registered with the Moral and Welfare Division, Office of the 
Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel J1 of the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines. 
(b) “AFP Military Personnel” - shall include all active and 
incapacitated members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 
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SECTION 4. Educational Benefits. Dependents of military 
personnel not exceeding four (4) shall be entitled to educational assistance in 
any of the following educational levels with the indicated amount of support 
per school year and corresponding durations as follows: 
Educational level 
Amount of Support 
(Per year) 
College 
P 6,000.00 
Vocational 
P 4,000.00 
Secondary 
P3,OOO.OO 
Elementary 
P2,000.00 
Duration 
415 years 
2 years 
4 years 
6 years 
SECTION 5. Health Benefits. Dependents of Military personnel 
shall be entitled to the following health benefits to be provided by AFP 
Health Facilities located in various parts of the country: 
(a) Free Hospitalization, inclusive of professional services, medicine, 
and medical supplies 
(b) Dispensary or Outpatient Services 
(c) Ambulance services 
(d) Free Dental Services 
SECTION 6. Housing Benefits. All Military Personnel and their 
dependents shall be provided with the necessary housing subject to the 
eligibility and priority system set by the Major Service/Unit Housing Boards 
of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Housing, especially Off-Base housing 
in preparation for retirement will be provided additional funding. 
SECTION 7. Commissary Benefits. A11 Military Dependents shall be 
entitled to the benefitlprivilege of purchasing tax-exempt merchandise from 
any of the AFPCES units either cash or salary check. 
SECTION 8. Other Benefits and Privileges. Military Dependents 
shall continue to receive all other existing benefits and privileges. 
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SECTION 9. Creation of the Military Dependents Welfare Office. 
There is hereby created a Military Dependents Welfare Office, herein after 
referred to as the Office, which shall be attached to the Morale and Welfare 
Pivision, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, J-1 Armed Forces 
of the Philippines, for the coordination and recommendation of policies and 
programs for military dependents. 
SECTION 10. Functions of the Office. The Office shall have the 
powers and functions: 
(a) To act as coordinating body for all issues and concerns of military 
dependents. 
(b) To formulate and institutionalize the necessary system and 
mechanism to ensure the effective and responsive delivery of 
benefits for military dependents. 
(c) To facilitate and ensure the swift release of benefits to the Military 
Dependents. 
(d) To review existing benefits and recommend the necessary 
improvements to ensure better benefits for Military Dependents. 
(e) To annually recommend to the Department of National Defense 
appropriations for military dependent's benefits under the budget of 
the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 
SECTION 11. Coordination with Armed 
Forces of the 
Philippines Savings and Loans, Associations Incorporated (AFPSLAI) 
and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Retirement Separation 
Benefit System (AFPRSBS). The Military Dependents' benefits office shall 
coordinate with the AFPSLAI and AFPRSBS to facilitate and ensure the 
release of benefits for military dependents. 
SECTION 12. Appropriations. The Department of National Defense 
shall, every year allocate a portion of their annual budget for the support of 
this Act. 
SECTION 13. Rules and Regulations. The Department of National 
Defense shall promulgate the Rules and Regulations necessary for the 
effective implementation of this Act. 
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SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. All Republic Acts, Executive 
Orders, Presidential Decrees, laws, rules and regulations inconsistent with 
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 15. Separability Clause. If, for any reason, any section or 
part of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining sections 
or parts not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
SECTION 16. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. 
Approved, 
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