PROVIDING FOR THE ANNUAL REGISTRATION OF RESERVISTS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES; GRANTING SECURITY OF TENURE TO RESERVISTS EMPLOYED IN PRIVATE FIRMS WHILE UNDERGOING …

WHEREAS, the reservists of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines constitute the bigger bulk of its manpower requirement in
the event of total or partial military mobilization in time of war or
during periods o f national emergency;

WHEREAS, records pertaining to the number, status, location,
skills and other important information regarding AFP reservists are
either lacking, incomplete or not up-to-date, thus rendering difficult
their prompt, orderly and efficient mobilization and utilization during
war or national emergencies;

WHEREAS, existing laws and regulations are not adequate for
purposes of maintaining up-to-date and reliable information, data, and
pertinent records concerning AFP reservists, necessitating the adoption
of appropriate remedial measures; and

WHEREAS, to provide for a more effective reserve training
and defense build-up program, it is further necessary to grant security
of tenure for reservists employed in private firms and establishments
during periods of absence while fulfilling their military obligations to
the Republic, subject to certain conditions;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution as
Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and
pursuant to Proclamation No. 1.081, dated September 21, 1972, continued
in Proclamation No. 1104, dated January 1 7, 1973, and General Order No.
1, dated September 22, 1972, as amended, do hereby order and decree
that henceforth:

1. Within the period from 1 to 31 May 1973, and during the
   same period annually thereafter, it shall be mandatory for all
   reservists of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to register with the
   local civil register of the city or municipality where they reside,
   under such implementing rules and regulations as the Secretary of
   National Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Local
   Governments, shall promulgate and publish.
2. Any reservists of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who,
   without lawful excuse or justification, shall fail to register with the
   local civil registrar as provided for above within the period herein
   prescribed shall, upon conviction by a military court, tribunal or
   commission, suffer confinement at hard labor for not more than one year
   and/or pay a fine of not to exceed one thousand pesos.
3. It shall be the duty of the local civil registrar to
   forward copies of all registration documents accomplished by reservists
   as provided herein to the Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the
   Philippines. The local civil registrar shall likewise report immediately
   to the Armed Forces of the Philippines the death of any person known to
   him or publicly known to be a reservist of the Armed Forces of the
   Philippines.
4. Notification to the Armed Forces of the Philippines of the
   impending departure of a reservist from the country shall be a
   prerequisite to the issuance or validation of a passport and/or travel
   clearance.
5. The National Computer Center shall render such technical
   assistance as may be necessary in the updating and analysis of records
   of reservists.
6. Any employee of any private commercial, industrial, or
   agricultural firm, with an annual gross volume of business of not less
   than two hundred and fifty thousand pesos and with a personnel force of
   at least twenty employees, who is called to undergo refresher training,
   or a mobilization or assembly test, or annual active duty training in
   the Armed Forces of the Philippines, shall not lose his position or
   suffer any loss of pay due to his absence in the fulfillment of his
   military obligation: Provided, That said firm shall be entitled to claim
   the salaries paid to such employee during such training period as a
   deductible item in its income tax return.
7. The penalty of imprisonment for not more than six months
   and/or a fine not to exceed one thousand pesos shall be imposed upon any
   employer or responsible public official who shall prevent the
   fulfillment by any employee of the latter’s obligation to undergo any
   military refresher training, mobilization or assembly test or annual
   active duty training as may be required by law.
8. The Armed Forces of the Philippines may transmit in the mail,
   free of charge, all official communications and papers directly
   connected with the objectives and purposes of this Decree. The envelope
   or wrapper of the privileged mail matter shall bear on the upper left
   comer the name, official designation and station of the official sending
   such mail matter and on the upper right comer, the words: “Private or
   unauthorized use to avoid payment of postage is penalized by fine or
   imprisonment or both.” Any person who uses the privilege granted herein
   for private or unauthorized purposes, shall be punished by a fine of
   five hundred pesos or imprisonment of not more than three years, or
   both.

All provisions of laws, rules and regulations, which are in
conflict with this Decree are hereby modified and/or amended
accordingly. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in
the City of Manila, this 6th day of May, in the year of Our Lord,
nineteen hundred and seventy-three.