Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 8186)
The main objective of Republic Act No. 8186 is to prescribe the authorized number of officers in the active force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in each grade and service category, and to limit the tenure of officers in the grades of Colonel/Captain (PN) and General/Flag Officers as part of the AFP Modernization Program.
The Secretary of National Defense is responsible for prescribing the authorized number of officers in each grade and service in the AFP and implementing the gradual decrease in officer numbers according to the law.
The maximum percentage of General/Flag Officers allowed in the AFP active force is 0.75% of the total officer strength.
The allocation is as follows: 0.75% General/Flag Officers, 6% Colonel/Captain (PN), 12% Lieutenant Colonel/Commander (PN), 18% Major/Lieutenant Commander (PN), 20% Captain/Lieutenant (PN), and 43.25% First Lieutenant/Lieutenant Junior Grade (PN) and Second Lieutenant/Ensign (PN).
The maximum tenure for officers in the grade of Brigadier General/Commodore is five (5) years.
No, an officer can only be promoted to Brigadier General/Commodore or higher if there is an existing vacancy and if the officer is occupying a position in the Table of Organization that requires that grade or rank.
General/Admiral (0-10), Lieutenant General/Vice Admiral (0-9), and Major General/Rear Admiral (0-8) are limited to three (3) years maximum tenure each in their respective grades.
They shall be compulsorily retired unless earlier separated, promoted, or occupying a position requiring a higher rank. The Chief of Staff of the AFP may be allowed to finish his tenure by the President's approval.
The Chief of Staff, AFP; Vice Chief of Staff, AFP; Deputy Chief of Staff, AFP; and Major Service Commanders have a maximum tenure of three years in their positions.
Except for the Chief of Staff of the AFP, no officer shall be assigned or promoted to key positions such as Brigadier General/Commodore or higher if they have less than one year of active service remaining before compulsory retirement.
Officers already holding ranks upon the approval of this Act may be allowed one additional year of tenure in grade before the maximum tenure applies to them, unless they have already reached compulsory retirement age.
If the actual number in a grade is less than the prescribed number, the difference may be applied as an increase to the number prescribed in the lower grade.
The Table of Organization serves as the basis for authorized officer numbers and distributions by grade in the AFP units, and it shall be adjusted based on mission requirements and gradually decreased in line with the law.
Yes, due to their highly technical nature, the Air Force and Navy are allocated a higher officer to enlisted personnel ratio not exceeding 15% of the ratio allocated for the Philippine Army.
The implementation is funded by savings from the AFP appropriations for the current year and thereafter from the annual General Appropriations of the AFP.