PROVIDING FOR SPECIAL GROUP TERM INSURANCE BY THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM OR OTHER INSURANCE FIRMS FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND APPROPRIATI…

WHEREAS, the primary responsibility for the effective
implementation of Martial Law rests on the members of the Armed Forces
of the Philippines, who are increasingly exposed to dangers to life and
limb in their task of suppressing the activities of insurgents and
lawless elements; and

WHEREAS, it is necessary to provide increased government
insurance coverage for such members of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, as a measure of financial amelioration for their
dependents, and to maintain their efficiency while performing their
aforementioned task;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution as
Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and
pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and General
Order No. 1, dated September 22, 1972, as amended, do hereby order and
decree that:

SECTION 1. Subject to such terms and conditions that may be
agreed upon by the Government Service Insurance System or other
insurance firms and the Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines,
including the rates of the insurance premiums, fifty percent (50%) of
which shall be paid by each member of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines and fifty percent (50%) by the Government as its counterpart
premium contribution, and approved by the Secretary of National
Defense, each member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the
active service, including cadets of the Philippine Military Academy and
the Philippine Air Force Flying School, probationary officers, trainees
and draftees, shall be insured under an annual special group term
coverage program, renewable annually thereafter, in an amount not
exceeding P6,000 per member, in addition to the compulsory insurance for
members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines by the Government
Service Insurance System as provided by existing law.

SEC. 2. Such amounts as may be necessary for the
Government’s counterpart as herein provided are hereby appropriated out
of funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated;
thereafter, such sums as may be required for the purpose shall be
included in the annual appropriations of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines.

This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City
of Manila, this 22nd day of December, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen
hundred and seventy-three.