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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Edgardo J. Angara 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In moving toward the 2Ist century, the Armed Forces of the Philippines 
has begun the long overdue process of modernization. 
The program of 
modernization seeks to upgrade facilities, 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 
institutionalising 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. 
EDGAIRDO J. ANGARA 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
1 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
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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 2001 .’I 
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: 
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. 
AFP Miliary Personnel - shall include all active and incapacitated 
members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 
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 
Duration 
(Per year) 
College 
P 6,000.00 
Voca t i ona I 
P 4,000.00 
415 years 
2 years 


Second a r y 
Elementary 
P 3,000.00 
P 2,000.00 
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. All Military Dependents shall be 
entitled to the benefit/privilege 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. 
Section 9. Creation of the Military Dependents Welfare Office. There 
is hereby created a Military Dependents Welfare Office, herein after 
refgrred to as the Office, which shall be attached to the Morale and 
Welfare Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, J-I 
Art-ded Forces of the Philippines, for the coordination and recommendation 
of policies and programs for military dependents. 
Section I O .  Functions of fhe Office. The Office shall have the 
powers and functions: 
To act as Coordinating body for all issues and concerns of 
military dependents. 
To formulate and institutionalize the necessary system and 
mechanism to ensure the effective and responsive delivery of 
benefits for military dependents. 
To facilitate and ensure the swift release of benefits to the 
Military Dependents. 
To 
review existing benefits and recommend the necessary 
improvements to ensure better benefits for Military Dependents. 
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, Associa fions Incorporated (AFPSLAI) and the Armed 
Forces of the Philippines retirement separation benefit System (AFPRSBS),. 
The Military Dependents's benefits office shall coordinate with the AFPSLAI 


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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. 
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 I O .  Effectivity. This Act shall take effect upon its approval