Vid REPRE;

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1922

HOUSE BILL NO.
Introduced by: HON. “KUYA® JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF ARREARS IN THE VETERANS.
PENSIONS AND BENEFITS MANDATED PURSUANT TO REPUBLIC ACT NO.
7696, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT STANDARDIZING
AND UPGRADING THE BENEFITS FOR MILITARY VETERANS AND THEIR
DEPENDENTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippine Constitution under Article XVI Section 7 provides that the State
shall provide immediate and adequate care, benefits, and other forms of assistance to war
veterans and veterans of military campaigns, their surviving spouses and orphans.

Unfortunately, the report of the Philippine Veterans Office of the Department of
National Defense has showed that there are around P21 Billion accumulated arrears. The
government should be able to address this concen in order to compensate the service of
our troops who bravely fought for our independence and freedom.

The purpose of this bill is to provide a measure that will satisfy the outstanding

, obligations in favor of the veterans, military retirees and their heirs or dependents. The

funds that may be used to settle these obligations may come from utilization of the
proceeds from the development, lease, or other proprietary use of government properties.

In view thereof, the early passage of this proposed measure is_highly
recommended 4

“KUYA” JOSE ANTONIOR. SY-ALVARADORyY

j Representative
/ First District of Bulacan

S Receiven %
fo oareNUL_ 1.0 2019



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 1921

Tniroduced by: HON. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO _

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF ARREARS IN THE VETERANS
PENSIONS AND BENEFITS MANDATED PURSUANT TO REPUBLIC ACT NO.
7696, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT STANDARDIZING
AND UPGRADING THE BENEFITS FOR MILITARY VETERANS AND THEIR
DEPENDENTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Congress assembled

SECTION 1, Declaration of Policy, - It is hereby declared the policy of the State
to provide immediate and adequate care and benefits to war veterans by allotting the
necessary funds to pay for the arrears in the payment of pensions and other benefits of the
veterans and military retirees or their dependents.

SEC. 2. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to the lease, development or use of the
following properties of the government:

a. Former site of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) at
Arroceros Street, Ermita, Manila,

b, Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City,
c, Taguig Industrial Estates,

d;,Properties given. by, the, Japanese. goyernment to. the. Philippine
government under the Reparations Agreement, including the Roponggi,
Nampeidai and Fujimi properties in Tokyo, and the Noniwacho and Obanoyama

properties in Kobe, and

e, Other properties that may be identified by the Office of the President.


SEC. 3. Privatization, and Management Office. - The Privatization and
Management Office (PMO) of the Department of Finance is hereby authorized to
implement the actual marketing for the lease, development or use of the above properties
and to perform the following:

a, Execute and deliver, on behalf of the national government, the deeds,
© Contracts and other instruments as may be necessary of appropriate to effect the
"lease, development or use of said properties,

b, Engage extemal expertise as may be necessary in the fulfillment of its
tasks,

¢. Submit periodic reports to the PVAO on the status of private sector
participation in the lease, development or use of said Properties, and

d. Adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effect the
Provisions of this Act

SEC, 4. Funding Source. - Ail proceeds from the lease, development or use of the
properties mentioned in Section 2 hereof shall be utilized to fund the pension and benefits
of yeterans and military retirees, whether in arrears, or due,for payment by the national
goyernment Provided, That any shortfall in payment of pensions and benefits to veterans
and military retirees shall be settled by the national government from other sources.

All proceeds and receipts from, the lease, development or use of said properties except
Operational expenses shall be remitted directly to any government bank as the depository

“bank and managed, by the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office for purposes of automatic
distribution of pensions and benefits directly to war veterans and military retirees.

SEC..5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of National
Defense shall, in coordination with the Secretary of Finance, issue the necessary rules
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within six (6) months after its
effectivity.

SEC. 6, Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances, rules
and regulations, or, parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.
| SEC. 7, Effeetivity.,- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the
Completion of its publication in at, least two (2), national newspapers of general

circulation. oo 1