SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and\” .
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 1222

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was originally introduced as House Bill No. 724 by the undersigned
Rufus B. Rodriguez during the 15” Congress where it was approved by the
Committee on Veterans Affairs and Welfare, approved on 2™ reading, approved on
3" reading and was transmitted to the Senate where it was not acted upon.

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 after its date of establishment or until the Filipino
veterans shall 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 earnestly sought.

x

RUFUS B. ROGRIGUEZ

MAXHM0 B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.



SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No, 1222

AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN AN OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN
THE PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
PRESCRIBING ITS FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING 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. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the
government to pursue the claims of Filipino veterans of World War I 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 goal, 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 ofthe 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,