AFP and PNP Camp Development Fund Act

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL -3 P5:12 RAUT S. B. No. 108 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ALAN PETER "COMPAÑERO" S. CAYETANO ESTABLISHING CAMP DEVELOPMENT FUNDS FOR THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE, APPROPRIATING THE SUM TOTAL OF TWENTY-FIVE BILLION PESOS EACH FOR FIVE YEARS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Peace and order is essential to not just the stability of the country, but also its continued growth. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) serve as the cornerstones of our national defense and security, tasked with maintaining peace and order, protecting the integrity of our territory, and upholding our national interests. The camps of the military and police, serving as base of operations, are critical to these agencies, housing their offices and headquarters, units, and training and lodging facilities. Over the years, members of Congress observed that the AFP and the PNP have always scrambled to look for funding specifically for developing and making improvements on their respective camps or headquarters, often seeking support from other agencies or local government units. This is the reason why in the 2020 General Appropriations Act (GAA), Congress allocated the amount of One Billion Pesos (PHP 1,000,000,000.00) each to the respective Camp Development Funds of the AFP and the PNP. This measure is envisioned to provide a five-year program to modernize, develop, and upgrade military and police camps in accordance with development plans. These development plans, as well as procurements made under these plans, shall be transparent, but access thereto shall accordingly be restricted to ensure that confidential information relative to these plans and procurements shall not fall into the hands of "enemies of the state," in the interest of national security and public order. Aside from the inherent benefits of providing our uniformed personnel with better facilities to boost their productivity and performance, this investment in infrastructure and development of military and police bases of operations also produces a multiplier effect in terms of generating employment, increasing foreign exchange earnings, and stimulating the local economy, all of which help to alleviate poverty. By ensuring that the AFP and the PNP has sufficient funding for their camps, programs, including the development and improvement of their

headquarters, offices, and facilities, we are helping military and police personnel perform efficiently and realize their mandate. For said reasons, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. ALAN PETER "COMPAÑERO" S. CAYETANO

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TERRACE THE FAFNES? First Regular Session JUL -3 P5:12 RECEI S. B. No. 108 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ALAN PETER "COMPAÑERO" S. CAYETANO AN ACT ESTABLISHING CAMP DEVELOPMENT FUNDS FOR THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE, APPROPRIATING THE SUM TOTAL OF TWENTY-FIVE BILLION PESOS EACH FOR FIVE YEARS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "AFP and PNP

2 Camp Development Fund Act."

SEC. 2. Appropriations. - (a) The sum of Five Billion Pesos (PHP

5,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) out of any funds in the National Treasury of the Philippines not otherwise appropriated, as supplemental appropriations for the FY 2026 Budget. Thereafter, for the next four (4) years, the sum of Five Billion Pesos (PHP 5,000,000,000.00) shall be appropriated every year for the Camp Development Fund of the AFP. (b) The sum of Five Billion Pesos (PHP 5,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated under the Philippine National Police of the Philippines (PNP) out of any funds in the National Treasury of the Philippines not otherwise appropriated, as supplemental appropriations for the FY 2026 Budget. Thereafter, for the next four (4) years, the sum of Five Billion Pesos (PHP 5,000,000,000.00) shall be appropriated every year for the Camp Development Fund of the PNP.

SEC. 3. Camp Development Fund. - The amount appropriated herein to

fund the Camp Development Funds of the AFP and the PNP shall be used exclusively for their respective Five-Year Camp Development Plans to develop and make improvements on their respective camps and the headquarters. This fund shall include spending for the following purposes, including but not limited to: a) Appropriate facilities and equipment for training, such as conference halls, seminar rooms, firing ranges, audio-visual rooms, and the like; b) Sports facilities, health and wellness facilities; c) Facilities for lodging;

d) Provisionfor utilities such as internet connection, internet- abled communication devices, and the like; e) Security facilities and devices, other monitoring devices such as Closed- circuit television (CCTV); f) Such other necessary facilities as determined by the head of the agency. Procurements made under these camp development plans shall adhere to the principles of transparency and accountability in the use of public funds. Furthermore, the Department of Budget and Management and the Commission on Audit shall develop and implement guidelines which allow procurement methods that ensure that the plans are restricted and held in confidence for national security and public order.

SEC. 4. Use and Release of Funds. - The amount appropriated shall be

released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the AFP and the PNP in accordance with relevant budgeting, accounting and auditing laws, rules and regulations.

SEC. 5. Availability of Appropriations. - The appropriations authorized in this

Act shall be available for release and obligation for the purposes specified from the date of the effectivity of this Act until fully spent.

SEC. 6. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared

invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts hereof not affected thereby shall remain valid.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,