Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

233
House Bill No. —

Introduced by Honorable Roilo Golez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Veterans and retired government employees have made a career, offering their best years and at
times putting their lives and limbs at risk, of serving country and their fellowmen

The veterans are the brave men and women who have rendered military service during various
conflicts. Surviving veterans served during the Second World War, the Korean campaign, the Vietnam
Campaign, or who rendered military service in the Armed Foroes of the Philippines during times of peace.
They have risked of the Philippines during times of peace. They have risked their lives for the protection of
the State and in defense of liberty and democracy.

Government employees on the other hand are the faceless men and women who make
government work and who have decided on a career in public service, notwithstanding the more lucrative
opportunities in the private sector. They are the teachers, postal workers, public health officers, social
workers, airport and port employees, telecommunications employees, land registrars, assessors,
treasurers, collectors, revenue officers and thousand of others who are the flesh of the bureaucracy and the
workhorses and frontliners of government service. They are both commended and maligned, praised and
cursed depending on times and circumstances; but what remains constant over generations is that they are
iltpaid, with practically no savings and very litte benefits on retirement.

Many of these veterans and retired employees live the rest oftheir lives in penury, with only a few
scratched plaques and faded certificates to show after a lifetime of public service. And in their ebbing years,
when they are most vulnerable because of frailties of advancing age, they face mounting medical expenses
at a ime when their savings have dried up and no additional means of livelihood is possible.

It is therefore the responsibilty of the State of provide medical services to these veterans and
retired government employees, not only as a gesture of gratitude for their past services, but also to
reassure soldiers and employees who stil serve that the Government will take care of them up to the end
and thus boost their morale and make them more productive.

This bill therefore seeks to mandate that all government owned and operated hospitals shall
provide free medical services to all Filipino veterans and retired government personnel.


RQULO GOLEZ

Swift passage of the measure is eamestly requested


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 23

Introduced by Honorable Roilo Golez

AN ACT
PROVIDING FREE MEDICAL SERVICES TO FILIPINO VETERANS AND RETIRED GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL IN GOVERNMENT-OWNED AND OPERATED HOSPITALS AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. All Filipino veterans and retired government personnel shall be given free
medical services in government -owned and -operated hospitals.

SEC. 2. The Department of Health shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to
implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 3. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, and all other issuances, or parts
thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed and modified accordingly.

SEC. 4. If any part or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, other parts and
Provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its complete publication in
at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,