EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
2788

House Bill No.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was originally introduced as House Bill No. 724 during the 15" Congress
where it was approved by the Committee on Veterans Affairs and Welfare, approved on a
reading, approved on 3° reading and was transmitted to the Senate where it was not acted
upon. It was re-filed during the 16” COgnress where it was approved by the House of
Representatives. It was again re-filed during the 17" Congress.

This bill mandates the establishment and maintenance of an Office of Veterans
Affairs in the Philippine Embassy in the United States of America (USA) to ensure that the
Filipino veterans shall receive the benefits and privileges due them.

‘As of June 2007, the Philippine Veterans Affairs logged 249,987 pensioners. 183,274
are receiving their old age pension; 16,995 their disability pensions; and 39,718 pensions
were released. Of the ones receiving their old-age pension, 158,022 receive their benefits
through the bank while the remaining number receives theirs through snail mail. Despite the
veterans receiving compensation for their service to the country, they have yet to collect their
full benefits and privileges from the American government with whom they fought and served
to obtain independence and peace.

This bill seeks to establish and maintain an Office of Veterans Affairs in the Philippine
Embassy in the United States of America to represent, negotiate and lobby for the rights of
the Filipino veterans with the appropriate US offices. The office shall be maintained for five
years affer its date of establishment or until the Filipino veterans shalll receive their benefits
and privileges, the time of which shall exceed another five years.

The office shall be headed by an appointee of the President of the Philippines. Other
staff members include two administrative assistants assigned by the Secretary of the
Department of National Defense and other locally hired staff members. For its first year, the
necessary funds shall be provided through the budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The amount necessary to continue the implementation shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

To ensure that the Filipino veterans enjoy their twilight years with the aid of their
benefits and privileges, the urgent approval of this measure is eamestly sought.

RuFUS B. RODRIGU

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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez

House Bill No__ 2788

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING THE OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN THE
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PRESCRIBING ITS
FUNCTIONS AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the government to
pursue the claims of Filipino veterans of World War Il and work for the full restoration of their
rights, privileges and benefits from the United States government

SEC. 2. Establishment of an Office of Veterans Affairs. — For the attainment of this policy,
there is hereby created an Office of Veterans Affairs in the Philippine Embassy in the United
States of America mandated with the task of making formal representations, consultations
and negotiations or otherwise cause the conduct of sustained and effective lobbying with
appropriate offices of the legislative and executive branches of the United States
government and other agencies and entities which can enhance the favorable consideration
of the claims of Filipino veterans. The Office shall be in existence for five (5) years from the
date of approval of this Act or until the Filipino veterans shall have availed of their legitimate
claims, the time of which shall not exceed another five (5) years.

SEC. 3. Staffing. - The Office of Veterans Affairs shall have a staff consisting of a head of
office appointed by the President of the Philippines, two (2) administrative assistants
assigned by the Secretary of the Department of National Defense and such other locally
hired personnel as the head of office may find necessary. The Veterans Federation of the
Philippines shall submit a list of five (5) persons who could head the Office of Veterans
Affairs and one of whom shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines as a special
presidential representative who shall have a comparable diplomatic rank.

SEC. 4. Appropriations. ~ The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act
shall be charged against the current year's appropriations for the operational requirements of
the Ad Hoc Veterans Affairs Office in Washington D.C. authorized under the budget of the
Philippine Veterans Affairs Office. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,