" 
Republic of the Philippines 
SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Pasay City 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
S. B. No. -2.61 
G-H " tit' d t? 
~1 
¥~ l"''*' , 
{frjfft;r .~f H1i:,;'.l'rr:b ry 
Introduced by SENATOR JUAN EDGARDO "SON1\jY" M. 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 modI' 'nization seeks to upgrade 
facilities, and acquire equipment to ensure that the Armed Forces eln live up to its constitutional 
mandate of preserving our national sovereignty, 
However, we cannot lose sight of the fact that a state has ~:1 obligation to safeguard our 
sovereignty by modernizing the military; it also has the primary duly to ensure the prosperity of 
the nation and provide adequate social services and an improved quality of life for its citizens, 
Modernization o.f our Armed Forces should be accompar,ed by better ahd 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 ;,1ilitary personnel and their 
I:tependents is promoted and improved, 
This piece of legislation lays down the necessary framewor;, of institutionalizing benefits 
for military dependents and emphasizes on increasing benefits 0 the dependents for Health, 
Housing Education, and other benefits, 
Thus, expeditious passage of this bill is earnestly sought 
/::::q-----~--/ 
JUA'N E~AR 10 "SONNY" M. ANGARA 
« 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
;!j!y nUl r l.' 
( 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
~EPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
j[]ll\;. IJi' tlpJ_j,ptrthtr;v 
)JUL .. -') 
S. B. No. 2£.1 
Introduced by Senator JUAN EDGARDO "SONNY" M. ANGARA 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR BENEFITS TO MILITARY DEPENDENTS, CREATING THE 
MILITARY DEPENDENTS WELFARE OFFICE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPCSES 
'\ '1 .j 4 
, \~' ., 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Represeniatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the "Militar/ Dependent's Benefits Act 
df 2013." 
24 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It shall be the policy of the. tate to ensure the prosperity 
25 
and well-being of its citizens through policies and programs ti at provide adequate social 
26 
services, promote rising standards of living and an improved qualitl of life for all. 
27 
28 
Moreover, the state recognizes the vital role of the mili\'1ry in tile protection of our 
29 
country's sovereignty and should therefore ensure the promotion <), Id improvement of the social 
30 
and economic status of military personnel and their dependents. 
31 
32 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act the f,)lIowing shall mean: 
33 
a) "Military Dependent" - refers to the wife, children and other persons dependent on 
34 
the military personnel for chief support, duly registerec· with the _Moral and Welfare 
35 
Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personr 81 J1 of-the Armed Forces of 
36 
the Philippines. 
37 
38 
39 
40 
b) 
"AFP Military Personnel" - shall include all active al :I incapacitated members of 
i 
the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 
41 
SEC. 4. Educational Benefits. Dependents of military per onnel not exceeding four (4) 
42 
shall be entitled to educational assistance in any of the followin. educational levels with the 
43 
indicated amount of support per school year and corresponding durations as follows: 
44 
45 
46 
47 
1 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
Educational level 
College 
Vocational 
Secondary 
Elementary 
Amount of Support 
(Per year) 
P 6,000.00 
P 4,000.00 
P 3,000.00 
P 2,000.00 
li>uration 
4/5 years 
2 years 
4 years 
6 years 
9 
SEC. 5. Health Benefits. Dependents of Military personnel shall be entitled to th'i 
10 
following health benefits to be provided by AFP Health Facilities I(leated in various parts of the 
11 
country: 
12 
a) 
Free Hospitalization, inclusive of Professional Servic1Js, Meqicines, and Medical 
13 
Supplies 
14 
b) 
Dispensary or Outpatient Services 
15 
c) 
Ambulance Services 
16 
d) 
Free Dental Services 
17 
18 
SEC. 6. Housing Benefits. All military personnel and their dependents shall' be provided 
19 
with the necessary housing subject to the eligibility and priorifv system set by the Major 
20 
Service/Unit Housing Boards of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Housing, especially Off-
21 
Base housing in preparation for retirement will be provided addition!:>1 funding. 
22 
23 
SEC. 7. Commissary Benefits. All military dependents shall. be entitled to the 
24 
benefit/privilege of purchasing tax-exempt merchandise from any ·)f the AFPCES units either 
25 
cash or salary check. 
26 
27 
SEC. 8. Other Benefits and Privileges. Military dependents. shall continue to receive all 
28 
other existing benefits and privileges. 
29 
30 
SEC. 9. Creation of the Military Dependents Welfare Office. There is hereby created 
31 
a Military Dependents Welfare Office, herein after referred to a(' the Office, which shall be 
32 
attached to the Morale and Welfare Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, J-
33 
1 Armed Forces of the Philippines, for the coordination and recc'rnmendation of policies and 
34 
programs for military dependents. 
35 
36 
37 
38 
39 
40 
41 
42 
SEC. 10. Functions of the Office. The Office shall have thr powers and functions: 
a) 
To act as coordinating body for all issues and concern$' of military dependents. 
b) 
To formulate and institutionalize the necessary systen1 and mechanism to ensurE! 
the effective and responsive delivery of benefits for mill'tary dependents. 
c) 
To facilitate and ensure the swift release of benefits to,he Military Dependents. 
d) 
To review existing benefits and recommend the neces:,ary improvements to ensure 
better benefits for Military Dependents. 
2 


1 
e) To annually recommend to the Department of Nat mal D~fense appropriations 
2 
for military dependent's benefits under the budget of the Armed Forces of th!f 
3 
Philippines, 
4 
5 
SEC. 11. Coordination with Armed Forces of the Philippines Savings and Loans, 
6 
Associations Incorporated (AFPSLAI) and the Armed F{lrces of the Philippines 
7 
Retirement Separation Benefit System (AFPRSBS). The Military Dependents' benefits office 
8 
shall coordinate with the AFPSLAI and AFPRSBS to facilitate and ensure the release of benefits 
9 
for military dependents, 
10 
11 
SEC. 12. Appropriations, The Department of National Defense shall, every year 
12 
allocate a portion of their annual budget for the support of this Act. 
13 
14 
SEC. 13. Rules and Regulations, The Department of National Defense shall 
15 
promulgate the Rules and Regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this Act. 
16 
17 
SEC. 14. Repealing Clause, All Republic Acts, Executive Orders, Presidential Decrees, 
18 
laws, rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
19 
accordingly, 
20 
21 
SEC. 15. Separability Clause, If, for any reason, any S'3ction or part of this Act is 
22 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining sections or pa1\s not affected thereby shall 
23 
remain in full force and effect. 
24 
25 
SEC. 16. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect upon its appioval. 
26 
27 
Approved, 
3