WHEREAS, the primary responsibility for the preservation of peace, order and security of the country rests on the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Integrated National Police who are increasingly exposed to dangers to life and limb in their tasks of suppressing the activities of insurgents and lawless elements;

WHEREAS, it is necessary to provide increased group insurance coverage for members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Integrated National Police as a measure of financial amelioration for their dependents and to maintain their efficiency while performing their aforementioned tasks;

WHEREAS, the Special Group Term Insurance coverage for members of the Armed Forces of P6.000.00 is very inadequate for the protection and security of the members and their family in view of the present high cost of living.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order and decree:

SECTION 1. Section One of Presidential Decree No. 352 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"1. Subject to such terms and conditions as may be mutually acceptable to the Government Service Insurance System or other insurance firms and the Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines, including the rates of insurance premiums (fifty percent) to be paid by each member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Integrated National Police and by the Government as its counterpart premium contribution (remaining fifty percent), and approved by the Minister of National Defense, each member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Integrated National Police in the active service to include cadets of the Philippine Military Academy and Philippine Air Force Flying School, Probationary Officers, trainees and draftees, shall be insured under an annual Special Group Term Coverage program renewable annually thereafter, for not exceeding P12.000.00 per said member, in addition to such compulsory insurance for members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Integrated National Police by the Government Service Insurance System as provided by existing law.''

SECTION 2. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila this 11th day of January, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and eighty-five.