EXEMPTING DEPENDENTS OF MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO DIE OR BECOME INCAPACITATED IN LINE OF DUTY FROM THE PAYMENT OF TUITION AND MATRICULATION FEES IN PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 577
• Sections: 7

Preamble

WHEREAS, the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,

more than any other body of government personnel have been called upon

to carry the great share of the grave burden of suppressing the

activities of groups of men engaged in criminal conspiracy to seize

state power in the Philippines and of people causing widespread

lawlessness, disorder and wanton destruction of lives and property,

endangering the political and economic stability of the country;

WHEREAS, the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

are sacrificing at the risk of their lives and that of their families in

order to achieve the preservation of peace and order;

WHEREAS, the dependents of the members of the Armed Forces

of the Philippines equally share the burden of the sacrifices of these

military personnel by being left on their own resources most of the

time; and

WHEREAS, it is necessary to enhance and keep at a high level

the morale of these military personnel while engaged in the serious and

delicate task of safeguarding the security of the country and in the

additional task of social and economic development;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the

Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution of

the Philippines, and pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081 dated September

21, 1972, do hereby decree and order that bonafide dependents of members

of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to include trainees and draftees

who have died or are incapacitated and those who shall die or may be

incapacitated in line of duty shall be exempt from the payment of

tuition and matriculation fees in public or private schools,

universities, colleges and other educational institutions, in accordance

with the following provisions:

Section 1 Definition of Terms.

SECTION 1. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of

this decree, the following terms are defined as shown:

Dependents — The spouse and unmarried children of

married military personnel, and the parents or any one next of Kin of

unmarried military personnel.

Military Personnel — Commissioned officers, enlisted

personnel, trainees and draftees who are in the active service of the

Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Grantee — The military dependent who is the recipient of

the benefit.

Benefit — Complete exemption from the payment of tuition

and matriculation fees in any public or private school.

School Year — Total of two (2) semesters and one (1)

summer.

School Levels — Elementary, secondary, and collegiate

levels, excluding- pre-school and postgraduate courses.

Tuition Fee — Fee collected by the school to be used in

paying for the instruction.

Matriculation Fee — Fee collected by the school in

consideration for the acceptance and registration of student.

Section 2

SEC. 2. Scope and Limitations—

This benefit shall be extended to any one dependent of military

personnel in the active service who have died or were incapacitated in

line of duty since September 21, 1972 and those who shall die and may be

incapacitated in line of duty hereafter.

This benefit may be enjoyed for a maximum of ten (10) school

years.

This benefit is transferable to any of the dependents of the

military personnel, at the option of the next of kin, provided it will

not exceed ten (10) school years.

This benefit is without prejudice to other educational benefits

previously being enjoyed by the military personnel or his dependents.

Section 3

SEC. 3. Prerequisites and Standards—

Admission of grantees to any school shall be in accordance with

existing laws and the admission policies of the school.

Except for grantees who are graduating from any school level to

the next level, or except for meritorious reasons, grantees shall not be

allowed to transfer from the school where they were enrolled prior to

the grant of this benefit to another school.

As long as the grantee satisfactorily passes the course of

instruction based on the approved standards of the schools, he shall

continue to enjoy the benefit. In case of failure in any subject or in a

school year, the benefit shall be suspended and the grantee, at his

option, may retake the subjects failed, or repeat the entire school

year, at his own expense.

The benefit shall be terminated in case the grantee is expelled

from the school, or is convicted by any court for any crime involving

moral turpitude.

Section 4 Implementing Rules and Regulations.

SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The

Secretary of National Defense, in coordination with 'the Secretary of

Education and Culture, shall promulgate the necessary rules and

regulations to carry out the provisions of this Decree.

Section 5 Penal Provisions.

SEC. 5. Penal Provisions. — Any person who shall

knowingly make false representations in connection with the application

and/or approval of the benefit shall be charged before a court martial,

military tribunal or civil court, as appropriate, and shall be punished

as the court martial, tribunal, or civil court may direct.

Section 6 Effectivity.

SEC. 6. Effectivity. — This Decree shall take

effect upon approval.

Done in the City of Manila, this 11th day of November, in the

year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.

(Sgd.)

FERDINAND E. MARCOS

President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.)

ALEJANDRO MELCHOR

Executive Secretary