CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No.

H

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS | DATE:
|

182 4

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE PIA S. CAYETANO,

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

The so-called Filipino Comfort Women suffered tremendously during
their ordeal in the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army. They suffered
more when they courageously came out in the open to tell the whole world
about the dastardly acts committed against them. The Government,
however, chose to remain silent about their plight and simply waited for the
sought-after recognition and compensation from the Japanese
Government, a foreign state over which we have neither influence nor
control

This Bill seeks to recognize the fate of these "comfort women” and
alleviate their suffering through financial and health insurance assistance
from the Government.

For these reasons, approval of this Bill is urgently sought

ps s Cuple
PIAS. CAYETANO,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
RECEIVED

2

BY! ais

REGISTRATION UNIT
BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE


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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

9
House BillNo,_ 1182

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE PIA S. CAYETANO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR PENSION AND HEALTH BENEFITS TO COMFORT
WOMEN, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. ~ Title, - This Act shall be known as The Comfort Women
Compensation and Benefit Act.

SEC. 2. - Definition of Terms. —

a. “Comfort Women” shall mean Filipino Women who were made sex
slaves by the Japanese Occupation Army during World War Il as may
be determined by the National Commission on Women

b, “NCRFW” shall mean the National Commission on the Role of Filipino
Women,

c. “Department” shall mean the Department of Social Welfare and
Development

d. “PVAO” shall mean the Philippines Veterans Affairs Office.

e. “Philhealth” shall mean the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.

SEC. 3. Determination of Comfort Women. - The NCRFW is hereby tasked
to determine the authenticity of the claims and identities of Comfort Women
with the assistance of the various accredited cause-oriented women’s groups.
Applications for the compensation and benefits herein provided for must be
filed within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, otherwise the same
shall forever be barred.


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SEC. 4, Responsibility of the Department. - The Department shall
formulate a program for the proper counseling and guidance of Comfort
Women taking into consideration not only their ordeal in the hands of the
Japanese Occupational Army but more so the pain and suffering of retelling
them in public.

SEC. 5. Duty of Philhealth. - The Philhealth is hereby mandated to provide
ftee full medical insurance to Comfort Women as may be determined by the
NCRFW.

SEC. 6, Responsibility of PVAO. - The PVAO shall provide for the monthly
pension of Comfort Women in the amount of Three Thousand Pesos
(Php3,000.00)

SEC, 7. Fund, — An initial fund in the amount of Ten Million Pesos
(Php10,000,000.00) is hereby allocated for the processing of applications and
payment of pensions and insurance of Comfort Women identified by the
NCREW. Thereafter, the cost of the pensions and insurance shall be included
in the budget of the PVAO and Phihealth under the General Appropriation
Act.

SEC. 8. Separability Clause.- If any part, section, of provision of this Act
Shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions shall not be
affected thereby.

SEC. 9, Repealing Clause.- All other acts, laws, executive orders,
presidential issuances, rules and regulations or any part thereof which are
inconsistent herewith are hereby deemed repealed or modified accordingly

SEC. 10. Effectivity.- The provisions of this Act shall take effect fifteen
days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national
newspapers of general circulation

Approved.