PhilHealth Maternity Care Package Guidelines

Policy and mission of the Reserve Force

Section 2 requires the State to maintain a standing or regular military force in times of peace consistent with adequate and actual security needs, with the capability to be rapidly expanded by the disciplined Citizen Armed Force in event of war, invasion or rebellion.
Section 3 requires the Citizen Armed Force to be given maximum opportunity to participate in safeguarding State security and assisting in socioeconomic development.
Section 4 requires the Citizen Armed Force to be organized, trained, developed, and maintained to ensure readiness to respond immediately when called to service.
Section 5 requires the State to promote and develop public support and awareness of the Citizen Armed Force’s role as protector of the people and the State.
Section 6 sets the manpower objective of the Citizen Armed Force to conform to projected and actual needs and states the State does not envision “a nation under arms” unless extremely necessary.
Section 7 establishes the mission of the Reserve Force to:
- provide the base for expansion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in war, invasion or rebellion;
- assist in relief and rescue during disasters or calamities;
- assist in socioeconomic development; and
- assist in the operation and maintenance of essential government or private utilities in furtherance of the overall mission.

Organizations and affiliated reserves

Section 8 requires the Reserve Force to be organized into five (5) components:
- Army Reserve Component;
- Air Force Reserve Component;
- Navy Reserve Component;
- AFP-Wide Technical Reserve Component; and
- Affiliated Reserves.
Section 9 requires each reserve component’s organization and manpower objective to be prescribed by the Secretary of National Defense and approved by the President.
Section 9 requires reserve units of a battalion type or equivalent to be organized on a provincial basis, and brigade and division type or equivalent units on a regional basis.
Section 9 requires affiliated reserve units’ organizational structure and manning to be prescribed by the Secretary of National Defense and to conform as much as possible to their existing civilian organization.
Section 10 authorizes the President, upon recommendation of the Secretary of National Defense, to approve private and government entities, corporations, establishments, and organizations at national, provincial, and municipal levels that provide essential public services (such as water, light, transportation and communications) necessary to support defense plans or meet an emergency.
Section 10 requires affiliated units to be constituted by appropriate orders issued by the Secretary of National Defense, given unit designations, assigned to appropriate AFP reserve components, and include the roster of officials and employees in the orders.
Section 10 requires affiliated units to be utilized in times of war or emergency to ensure continuous and uninterrupted provision of essential services.

Who qualifies as citizen soldiers

Section 11 defines citizen soldiers, alternately called reservists, as reservists incorporated into the Reserve Force.
Section 11 includes as citizen soldiers:
- ROTC graduates (basic and advance) issued orders as enlisted reservists or reserve officers;
- graduates of authorized basic military training instructions issued orders as enlisted reservists or reserve officers;
- ex-servicemen and retired officers of the AFP and other armed forces that have diplomatic relations with the Philippines who are honorably discharged or retired and who are Filipino citizens upon application;
- recognized World War II guerrillas honorably discharged;
- commissioned and noncommissioned officers under the Affiliated Reserves category and graduates of the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP); and
- commissioned/noncommissioned officers and privates under existing laws, including those procured under project 36-70 and included in the AFP roster before enactment, and those to be commissioned or enlisted after enactment.

Age-based categories and readiness classifications

Section 12 creates three (3) categories of citizen soldiers based on age:
- First Category Reserve: 18 to 35 years inclusive;
- Second Category Reserve: 36 to 51 years inclusive; and
- Third Category Reserve: above 51 years of age.
Section 13 requires Reserve Force units to be classified into Ready Reserve, Standby Reserve, and Retired Reserve based on operational readiness for immediate deployment/utilization.

Ready Reserve rules

Section 13 requires the Ready Reserve to be composed mostly of citizen soldiers from the First Category Reserve and others as provided in the Act.
Section 13 requires the Ready Reserve to be organized, trained, and maintained as mobilizable ready reserve subject to call at any time to augment the regular armed force not only in war or national emergency but also for local emergencies involving calamities, disasters, threats to peace/order/security/stability, and for relief and rescue and other civil assistance activities.
Section 13 allows reservists in the Second Category Reserve and/or Third Category Reserve—especially commissioned and noncommissioned officers—to volunteer for the Ready Reserve if qualified and fit for duty and to serve with an appropriate Ready Reserve unit.
Section 13 requires AFP Affiliated Reserve members from essential government/private utilities and services (such as power/electricity, water supply, transportation, communications, among others) to be classified as Ready Reserve regardless of categorization.
Section 13 requires all citizen soldiers in the First Category Reserve (except those exempted under the Act) to be required to serve with Ready Reserve units and to receive assignments and promotions under existing AFP policies until transferred to Standby Reserve due to age.
Section 13 exempts from rendering service with the Ready Reserve:
- active members of the AFP and active members of the Philippine National Police;
- those residing abroad only during the duration of absence from the Philippines;
- those physically and mentally unfit to serve;
- those convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude; and
- those exempted for valid reasons authorized on a case-to-case basis by appropriate and competent authority, with AFP guidelines, rules, and regulations.

Standby Reserve rules

Section 13 requires the Standby Reserve to be composed mostly of citizen soldiers from the Second Category Reserve and the Third Category Reserve, except as provided in the Act.
Section 13 requires Standby Reserve members to be organized and assigned to specified reserve units and maintained through annual assembly tests to update records and present addresses.
Section 13 requires the Standby Reserve to be mobilized or ordered to active duty only in times of national emergency or war.
Section 13 allows Standby Reserve ranks to be upgraded if members voluntarily participate in training or serve with Ready Reserve units in their areas or if their Standby Reserve units undergo retraining.
Section 13 encourages Standby Reserve members to upgrade military knowledge and skills by taking nonresident or resident courses set up for the purpose.

Retired Reserve rules

Section 13 requires the Retired Reserve to be composed of citizen soldiers who qualified for retirement through length of service, old age, or disability, with 65 years as retirement age.
Section 13 allows qualified and fit Retired Reserve members to be ordered to active duty in times of local or national emergencies if they volunteer and when the Secretary of National Defense determines there are not enough qualified citizen soldiers with special skills and qualifications in their area of residence.

Compulsory registration, training, boards, and deferments

Section 14 requires all male citizens between 18 and 25 years inclusive who are not reservists to register for military instruction.
Section 14 requires registration to occur in suitable registration places prescribed by the city or municipal government between April First and Seventh, commencing one (1) year after the effectivity of the Act, and requires biennial registrations during the same period in succeeding years.
Section 15 exempts from compulsory military training:
- members of the clergy of any religious order or sect (except if they volunteer);
- members in active service of the AFP and police members of the PNP;
- superintendent and uniformed members of the National Penitentiary, corrective institutions, and insane asylums; and
- licensed air and maritime pilots, navigators and merchant marine officers.
Section 16 designates city/municipal treasurers of chartered cities and municipalities as registering officers; requires the Secretary of National Defense to prescribe and provide forms and prescribe procedures for the registration and reporting of results.
Section 17 disqualifies or exempts from registration persons including those disqualified by law from government employment, those physically or mentally unfit certified by an AFP medical officer, and those suffering incarceration awaiting trial (with a duty to register without delay upon release).
Section 17 also disqualifies or exempts persons convicted by final judgment of criminal offenses involving moral turpitude, students of colleges/universities undergoing ROTC training during the pendency of recognized training to qualify as reservists, and affiliated-unit members for the duration of membership (with duty to register upon termination).

Selection, boards, quotas, and notices

Section 18 requires registrants selected for compulsory training to be selected in May every year by drawing of lots by a board of canvassers; requires the Secretary of National Defense to prescribe selection procedures.
Section 19 creates a board of canvassers for each province and chartered city, composed as follows:
- In provinces: Division Superintendent of Schools (Chairman), Provincial Fiscal (member), and the appropriate military commander designated by the Secretary of National Defense (member);
- In chartered cities: City Superintendent of Schools (Chairman), City Fiscal (member), and Chief of Police (member).
Section 20 requires the Secretary of National Defense to furnish each provincial governor and city mayor the quota of registrants for compulsory training to be drawn from their respective province or chartered city, with the province quota broken down into municipal quotas.
Section 21 allows registrants not selected for compulsory training to volunteer and be accepted to undergo military training if physically fit after examination and if they execute a written statement that they volunteered of their own will.
Section 22 requires Filipino citizens residing or working abroad, when liable to register for reservists’ training, to register with the nearest Philippine diplomatic or consular office, which transmits registrant data to the Secretary of National Defense.
Section 23 requires the board of canvassers to immediately and adequately publish names of selected registrants and notify them to report to the city or municipal acceptance board; requires the board to furnish each acceptance board with the list of drawn registrants.

Acceptance boards and classification

Section 24 creates an acceptance board in each municipality and chartered city to examine and classify registrants referred by the board of canvassers, decide fitness for training, and pass upon applications for deferment.
Section 24 requires acceptance board decisions by majority vote and requires the Secretary of National Defense to prescribe acceptance board operating procedures.
Section 25 sets acceptance board composition:
- In chartered cities: Local Civil Registrar (Chairman), City Health Officer (member), Chief of Police (member), and one civic leader chosen by local civic organizations (member);
- In municipalities: Local Civil Registrar/Municipal Treasurer (Chairman), Municipal Health Officer (member), Chief of Police (member), and one civic leader chosen by local civic organizations (member).
Section 26 requires physical examination by the health officer and classification into:
- Class A: Fit for unlimited service;
- Class B: Fit for limited service only;
- Class C: Deferred until later date; and
- Class D: Exempted for mental/physical reasons.

Deferment grounds, appeals, and final acceptance

Section 27 authorizes the acceptance board to grant deferment based on evidence, including these grounds and conditions:
- indispensable support for dependent families: deferment not exceeding two (2) years, after which the individual is subject to training;
- ROTC students: automatic deferment during basic ROTC completion, not extending beyond the period to complete basic ROTC; successful completion exempts; failure to complete/discontinue subjects to training;
- seminary students: deferment not exceeding the prescribed course; successful completion exempts; failure subjects to training;
- cadets of military/police service academies (including PMMA and other recognized local merchant marine academines for officer candidates): deferment not exceeding two (2) years; successful completion at least one-half (1/2) of the prescribed period exempts; failure to complete at least one-half (1/2) subjects to training;
- high school students in last year: deferment not more than one (1) year;
- registrants residing/working abroad: deferment for duration of stay abroad;
- elected officials and presidential appointees whose appointments are passed by the Commission on Appointments: deferment during incumbency.
Section 28 requires that if the acceptance board denies deferment, the individual may appeal in writing within thirty (30) days from receipt of written notification to the Secretary of National Defense.
Section 28 requires the Secretary of National Defense to decide the appeal within sixty (60) days from date of filing.
Section 28 guarantees the appellant the right to be heard personally with counsel and to present evidence.
Section 28 states the Secretary of National Defense’s decision (or duly authorized representative) is final.
Section 29 requires DND to bear acceptance board operating expenses, included in its annual appropriations; requires AFP/acceptance board members not to receive salary or compensation and to be entitled to allowances as the Secretary of National Defense prescribes.
Section 30 requires final qualified registrants selected by the acceptance board to be reported to the Secretary of National Defense, and requires selected registrants—upon instruction—to report to the designated military camp or unit for training.

Basic citizen military training and ROTC program

Section 35 requires registrants finally selected to undergo basic military training for a period of not more than six (6) months, and requires the Secretary of National Defense to prescribe the course of instruction.
Section 35 requires the course to include moral virtues, patriotism, discipline, support for and adherence to the Constitution, and respect for the rights of civilians.
Section 36 requires establishment of at least one (1) citizen military training center in every province with a minimum training capacity of one (1) infantry rifle at a time, as part of reserve component organization and referred to as citizen military training centers.
Section 37 requires physical examination upon reporting to assigned training centers and, if fit, induction into service.
Section 37 authorizes the commanding officer to issue orders and provide transportation funds for required transfers between centers, with a limitation: no transfer outside the province or designated training center except for Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force registrants if no air or naval training centers exist thereat.
Section 38 establishes that military training for students enrolled in colleges, universities and similar institutions is mandatory under the National Defense Act and the 1987 Constitution.
Section 39 requires ROTC units in schools that request conduct of military training, subject to approval by the Secretary of National Defense.
Section 39 requires ROTC instruction duration not exceeding:
- two (2) academic years for enlisted reservists; and
- four (4) academic years for officer reservists, including summer or probationary training of not more than sixty (60) consecutive days.
Section 39 defines: first two years as basic ROTC (mandatory) and second two years as advance ROTC (voluntary).
Section 39 requires allocation of ROTC units to major services to conform to projected manpower needs of their reserve components.

Advance ROTC acceptance, staffing, and ROTC funding

Section 40 creates an ROTC acceptance board for advance ROTC, composed of the commandant of the ROTC unit, a representative of the school nominated by school authorities, and a military physician.
Section 40 requires physical fitness examination for student volunteers and written testament of volunteerism; requires parental/guardian consent when the volunteer is below 18 years of age.
Section 40 requires competitive examination for students volunteering for reserve officer training to select the best material.
Section 41 requires the Secretary of National Defense to prescribe organization and staffing of ROTC units and gives priority to reserve officers in active service and qualified enlisted and officer reservists in inactive status to handle training instruction and assist administration, entitled to honoraria and allowances as prescribed.
Section 42 requires funds for establishment, maintenance, and operation of school ROTC units to be provided in AFP regular annual appropriations that fully fund advance ROTC only.
Section 42 prohibits requiring schools to spend money for establishment/operation/maintenance, provided the school provides training ground and office facilities free of charge.
Section 42 requires providing advance ROTC cadets free two (2) suits of fatigue uniform with headgear, belt, and one (1) pair of combat boots for the duration of training.
Section 42 requires basic ROTC participants to pay a reasonable ROTC fee determined by the Secretary of National Defense in coordination with school officials.

Scholarship incentive for advance ROTC

Section 43 requires students undergoing advance ROTC in the upper five percent (5%) of their academic class to receive a tuition subsidy of fifty percent (50%) of their annual tuition for the period of advance ROTC.
Section 43 requires the funding to be carried in AFP annual appropriations.
Section 43 requires the Chief of Staff, AFP to promulgate guidelines for implementation.

Reserve ranks, notifications, and registry

Section 44 allows elected officials and presidential appointees to be commissioned in the Reserve Force subject to existing AFP rules and regulations.
Section 45 requires graduates of basic ROTC to be given a reserve enlisted rank and serial number and assigned to reserve units and mobilization centers in their provinces, with ranks from private to sergeant or its equivalent.
Section 45 limits noncommissioned officer quota to not exceed five percent (5%) of authorized strength of the unit after assignment.
Section 45 requires that ranks above private be chosen based on merit.
Section 45 requires those continuing advance ROTC to carry their enlisted rank until successful completion of advance ROTC.
Section 46 requires successful advance ROTC completers to be recommended for reserve commission as second lieutenant and assigned to reserve units and mobilization centers in their provinces.
Section 46 allows those with manifest potential to be commissioned in the regular force as second lieutenants subject to criteria for regular officers of that rank for that service.
Section 46 requires those failing to complete advance ROTC to be conferred the enlisted rank of sergeant or its equivalent and assigned similarly to reserve units and mobilization centers.
Section 46 requires probationary training requisites before commissionship to be determined by the major service based on technical skills, experiences, and qualifications.
Section 47 requires reservists to receive written notification of assignment to a reserve unit and mobilization center and to acknowledge receipt in writing.
Section 48 requires AFP to provide city/municipal treasurers of chartered cities and municipalities an updated list of those who successfully completed military training, indicating rank, serial number, reserve unit assignment, and mobilization center, and to update the reserve registry.

Maintenance, training, readiness, and status on training

Section 49 requires accounting of reservists—especially Ready and Standby Reserves—to update records, ascertain present whereabouts, and ensure readiness to call to duty, using national and local reservists and veterans organizations as far as practicable.
Section 50 requires major services to administer, train, equip, and maintain their reserve components subject to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of National Defense.
Section 50 creates a dedicated reserve staff division in General Headquarters, AFP and in each Major Service Headquarters for planning and policy formulation for administration, development, organization, training, equipage, maintenance, and utilization of the reserve component.
Section 50 requires the Chief of Staff, AFP to create an AFP Reserve Command within one (1) year from Act effectivity, and requires separate units in major services dedicated to implementing plans and policies; requires preference to be given in staffing to qualified reserve officers in active service and “integrees.”
Section 51 requires maximum security to update skills through compulsory or voluntary training, with training focused on enhancing readiness to respond to the call to service.
Section 51 establishes two training types:
- compulsory training of not less than thirty (30) days but not more than sixty (60) days for reserve units and/or individual reservists in a given year, preferably to First Category Reservists; and
- voluntary training subject to AFP capability to provide training, with encouragement for individuals and priority for officers and key noncommissioned officers of Standby Reserve units.
Section 51 requires the Secretary of National Defense to prescribe course of instruction and requires maximizing the use of qualified individual enlisted and officer reservists for ROTC and reservists’ training.
Section 52 requires each major service to conduct continuing nonresident instruction to maintain and update proficiency of reservist officers, particularly key officers of Ready Reserve units, preparing them to assume duties up to brigade command and staff or equivalent.
Section 52 provides that successful completion of nonresident course is equivalent to undertaking one (1) annual active duty training tour.
Section 53 authorizes calling qualified reserve officers in inactive status to active duty for a period not exceeding two (2) years, without extension, with quotas distributed proportionately to provinces and cities based on reserve officer population and size of service units, prioritizing Ready Reserve units of type “Ready Reserve I.”
Section 53 requires reserve officers called to active duty, as far as practicable, to serve in the province of their reserve unit assignment, and prohibits calling a reserve officer again to active duty until after five (5) years except in case of mobilization.
Section 54 requires Ready Reserve units to be classified by readiness degree:
- Ready Reserve I: operational employment within not more than seven (7) days after activation, constant ascertaining of whereabouts, readiness of weapons/clothing/equipment for distribution upon activation, and carrying excess of twenty percent (20%) of authorized personnel strength to compensate for those who fail or are late to report;
- Ready Reserve II: operational employment within not more than fifteen (15) days.
Section 54 requires the Chief of Staff, AFP to select and recommend to the Secretary of National Defense reserve units under Ready Reserve I and II, and requires that in areas threatened by insurgency there must be at least one (1) infantry battalion strength unit under Ready Reserve I readiness status.
Section 55 requires procurement, storage, and maintenance of minimum essential individual and organizational equipment and supplies (mobilization stock) for selected Ready Reserve units to enhance rapid transition to readiness in the shortest possible time.
Section 56 requires successful completion of training under Sections 51 and 52 as a requisite for promotion to rank in the inactive status.
Section 57 requires only one classification of reserve officers in inactive status regardless of source/nature of commission, and only one seniority and lineal list for all reservists officers in inactive status regardless of source of commission, subject to rules of the Secretary of National Defense.
Section 58 provides that reservists on compulsory training are subject to military law but do not receive pay; they receive allowances and burial benefits provided by law.
Section 58 provides that reservists on voluntary training are also subject to military law but do not receive allowances.

Mobilization, demobilization, auxiliary service, and women

Section 59 requires utilization of the Reserve Force in emergencies to meet threats to national security through mobilization.
Section 59 provides:
- Full mobilization is through the joint act of Congress and the President; it activates all units of Ready and Standby Reserves, calls their reservists to active duty, and places activated units on operational readiness; it also organizes other reservists not assigned to units/assigned to reserve pools into replacement units.
- Partial mobilization is through the joint act of Congress and the President; it activates only Ready Reserve units necessary to meet the threat, calls reservists assigned to those units to active duty, places activated units on operational readiness, and the President specifies units.
- Selective mobilization is by authority of the President; it activates only selected Ready Reserve units of the localities involved or organizes active auxiliary units and calls volunteer reservists to active auxiliary service under rules of the Secretary of National Defense.
Section 60 provides that enlisted or officer reservists called to active duty by virtue of mobilization receive all pay and allowances, medical care, hospitalization, and other privileges and benefits prescribed by law or regulations for regular force personnel.
Section 61 requires the establishment in each province of as many mobilization centers as needed corresponding to the number and distribution of reservists, allows citizen military training centers to also be used as mobilization centers, and requires the Secretary of National Defense (upon recommendation of the Chief of Staff, AFP and in consultation with local executives) to prescribe location; requires widest public information by local executives.
Section 62 requires that when the threat or emergency for which mobilization was ordered has passed, the President orders demobilization of activated reserve units and reverts reservists of deactivated units to inactive status.
Section 63 authorizes the President to call upon reservists in affected localities to volunteer for auxiliary service to help maintain local peace and order, meet local insurgency threat, assist rescue and relief during disasters, health welfare activities, and participate in local socioeconomic development projects.
Section 63 defines auxiliary service types:
- Civil Auxiliary Service: nonmilitary activities including law and order support, rescue and relief, socioeconomic development, delivery of health services and other nonmilitary activity; female reservists must have greater participation; reservists are not armed and cannot be vested with police powers; licensed firearm holders may be granted permits to carry firearms only when performing duties in maintaining peace and order, subject to adequate control measures by proper authorities.
- Military Auxiliary Service: services meeting local insurgency threat; reservists are organized into Ready Reserve units, must be issued and allowed to carry firearms, must be utilized only for defense of their respective localities and not employed outside their localities; elected/appointed local government officials are expected to perform duties in peace and order council levels efficiently.
Section 63 requires the Secretary of National Defense to prescribe rules and regulations