The Senate on Wednesday, March 22, ratified the bicameral committee report on the
reconciled version of the bill amending Republic Act 11709 or the law limiting
the coverage of the three-year fixed term in the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP).
According to Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, the bicameral conference committee used the Senate version as the working draft of the bill.
The bicameral conference committee version of Senate Bill No. 1849 and House Bill No. 6517 prescribed the retirement age of 57 years old for military officers and enlisted personnel.
“The increased retirement age is aligned with the intention of longer active duty to maximize training and education,” Estrada told Senate reporters in a press briefing.
Estrada said data shows that among neighboring countries, the Philippines has the youngest retirement age of 56 years old, except for Cambodia which is at 55 years old.
But the bicam version retained the provision giving the AFP Chief of Staff a maximum tour of duty of three (3) years, while the commanding generals of the Philippine Army, and the Philippine Air Force, Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy and Superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) shall have a maximum tour of duty of two (2) years.
Under the bill, all officers and enlisted personnel shall be compulsorily retired upon reaching the age of 57 years old or accumulation of 30 years of satisfactory active service, whichever is later. The Chief of Staff and key officers with tour of duty shall retire upon completion of tour of duty or upon relief by the President.
Also under the measure, the tenure-in-grade of officers will
be as follows:
• General – 3 years
• Lt. General/Vice Admiral – 3 years
• Major General/Rear Admiral – 3 years
• Brigadier General/Commodore – increased from 3 years to 5 years
• Colonel/Captain – increased from 8 years to 10 years
• The President may lengthen the tenure-in-grade of officers in grades of Captain, Major and Lt. Colonel up to 2 promotional cycles.
Estrada also said lawmakers increased the number of generals from 1.125 percent, to 1.25%; increasing the 200 plus generals by 40 to 50 more.
Under the bill, the officer grade distribution – Table of Organization will serve as basis, instead of the authorized troop strength
• General/Flag Officers – 1.25%
• Colonel/Captain – 6%
• Lt. Colonel/Commander – 12%
• Major/Lt. Commander – 18%
• Captain/Lieutenant – 20%
• First Lieutenant/Lt. Junior Grade and Second Lieutenant/Ensign – 42.75%
The bicam version also retained the provision on Section 8 of Republic Act 11709 on Retirement Grade, which states that “Officers and enlisted personnel shall be retired one rank higher from the last rank held: Provided, That retirement benefits shall be based on the permanent grade last held: Provided, however, that this section shall not apply to those who are in active duty prior to the effectivity of this Act…”
The bicam version of the measure also repealed Section 11 of RA 11709 or Forced Attrition of Enlisted Personnel.