Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City
TWENTIETH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3503

Introduced by TUCP Party-List
Rep. RAYMOND DEMOCRITO C. MENDOZA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XVI, Section 7 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution mandates 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.” This bill proposes the
declaration of the whole month of April as the “Philippine Veterans’ Month” aligned with our
commitment to provide adequate care and benefits to Philippine veterans and their families,
honoring their years of service.

This month-long commemoration for the Philippine veterans aims to recognize not only the
sacrifices and heroism from the past but more importantly, to uphold benefits that will ensure
their welfare and of their families. We owe the Filipino veterans the freedom and progress we
have today by declaring the month of April as Veterans’ Month. It is through recognition, raising
awareness on the welfare and needs of the Filipino Veterans and their families, and ensuring
accessibility to their benefits that we can truly give back to their service and sacrifices. The
declaration of the whole month of April will provide an adequate time and opportunities to
implement more creative programs to enhance the accessibility and quality of services for the
Filipino veterans, provide a platform for the veterans to tell their stories, further educate the
Filipino youth, and enable the youth to volunteer for non-profit dedication to the veterans’
welfare, which at the same time will intensify the awareness and patriotism among the Filipinos.

This Philippine Veterans’ Month bill is not just a declaration, but a symbol of the bravery and
valor of our Filipino veterans and our commitment to remember their services and sacrifices,
ensure a better life for them, and foster love and peace for our country. We must never forget
their ideals and deeds, for forgetting is commensurate to denying the essence of our present day.

iymediate passage of the bill

In view of the foregoing,

\CRITO C. MENDOZA
TUCP Partylist Representative


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3503

Introduced by TUCP Partylist Representative
HON. RAYMOND DEMOCRITO C. MENDOZA

AN ACT DECLARING THE MONTH OF APRIL OF EVERY YEAR AS THE
“PHILIPPINE VETERANS’ MONTH”

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

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Veterans’ Month”.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. — In recognition of the heroism, sacrifices, and commitment to
service by the Philippine Veterans to the country and the Filipino people, the month of April of
every year is hereby declared as the “Philippine Veterans’ Month”.

Section 3. Objectives of the Policy. ~ The Philippine Veterans’ Month aims to:

a. Strengthen the commitment to honor and memorialize the Filipino veterans for their
services and sacrifices to ensure the freedom, peace, and security of the country and the
Filipinos, as the given month-long time will symbolize the heroism and valor of the
veterans and intensify patriotism among Filipinos with the aid of more creative and
enhanced activities.

b. Provide a platform for the Filipino veterans to have their voices heard and ensure that
their stories will be remembered by future generations and the youth to be further
educated about the Philippine history, involving the significant roles that the Filipino
veterans played in conflicts, disasters, and wars from fighting for the freedom of the
country to helping normal citizens.

c. Highlight the plight of the Philippine Veterans with emphasis on their well-being as well
as their family in order to place a focus on and ensure accessibility and quality of the
benefits they are entitled to receive.

d. Institutionalize the annual celebration through programs and activities in pursuant to the
observance of the “Philippine Veterans’ month.

Section 4. Activities. — The government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local
government units (LGUs), and other stakeholders will conduct activities and programs for the



commemoration and benefit of the Filipino veterans and their families across the regions such as,
but not limited to the following:
a. Production of publicly accessible media content on the individual experiences and stories
of the Filipino veterans
b. Integrating the service and sacrifice of Filipino veterans as part of the Philippine history
subjects in schools nationwide
c. Creating a platform that will connect and allow interested Filipino youth to contribute
and participate to volunteer programs that provide accessible and quality services for the
Filipino veterans
d. Pursue policies, programs, and projects through collaboration with various stakeholders,
in further improving the services and benefits of Veterans, especially in far-flung
communities and conflicted areas, that will ensure accessibility and quality of services
are being provided.

Section 5. Lead Agencies. - The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), the Department of
National Defense (DND), in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Education (DepEd), and other
relevant government agencies, are mandated to conduct and enhance activities and programs that
promote the remembrance of our Filipino veterans, their patriotic sacrifices, and the essential
role of their sacrifices in protecting the country and the Filipino people towards raising
awareness and fostering love for the country among the Filipinos, especially the youth.

Section 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity
of this Act, the PVAO, DND, DILG, DOH, and DepEd shall promulgate the necessary
implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to implement the provisions of this Act. Such IRR
shall take effect immediately thereafter.

Section 7. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, presidential
proclamations. Rules and regulation or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 9. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,