Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL y8176

Introduced by REP. Michael L. Romero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 1941, more than 250,000 Filipino soldiers responded to President Roosevelt's
call-to-arms and later fought under the American flag during World War Il. Many
made the ultimate sacrifice as both soldiers in the U.S. Army Forces in the Far
East and as guerilla fighters during the Imperial Japanese occupation of the
Philippines. Later, many of these brave individuals became proud United States
citizens. For over 60 years, Filipino veterans and community advocates have
fought to obtain compensation for those who served with American soldiers
during World War Il.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which the President
signed into law, contained a provision creating the Filipino Veterans Equity
Compensation Fund. Eligible veterans who are U.S. citizens receive a one-time
payment of $15,000; eligible veterans who are not U.S. citizens receive a one-
fime payment of $9,000. The Department of Veterans Affairs established a
process, in collaboration with the Department of Defense, to determine eligibility
to receive payments from the Fund.

To date, over 18,000 claims have been approved. Many Filipino veterans may
have been impeded from filing claims or believe their claims were improperly
denied.


This House Bill seeks to foster the recognition of our country's war veterans in their
patriotic services in times of war and peace for the cause of freedom and
democracy, and for the maintenance of peace and order, in keeping with the
goals of the Government and the aspirations of the people.

Thus, the early passage of this bill s earnestly requested.

L'L. ROMERO Ph.D


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL nG176

Introduced by REP. Michael L. Romero

AN ACT

AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO.7696, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN
ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO.6948”, TO FOSTER THE
SOCIOECONOMIC SECURITY AND GENERAL WELL-BEING OF THE
COUNTRY'S VETERANS IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR PATRIOTIC
SERVICES, TO PROMOTE THE ATTAINMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY,
INDEPENDENCE, AND SOCIOECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. DECLARATION OF POLICY - the state shall hereby recognize
that any person who rendered military service in the land, sea or air forces
of the Philippines during the revolution against Spain, the Philippine
American War, World War II, including Filipino citizens who served in allied
forces in the Philippine temitory and foreign nationals who served in

Philippine forces or of any recognized or deserving guerilla organization


who took active participation in the resistance movement and/or in the
liberation drive against the enemy during World War II, or of the Philippine
Expeditionary Forces to Korea, or of the Philippine Civic Action Group or
Philippine Contingent in Vietnam, who has never hereto enjoyed
educational benefit under Philippine law nor under the United States law,
who desires to study; or one direct descendant of a veteran in whose
favor he renounces such right; or the surviving spouse or a direct
descendant of a deceased veteran in whose favor the same is applied
for by the surviving spouse or by the legal guardian shall, upon
certification of the Administrator, be admitted to any school, college,
university, or institution authorized by the Government, with all school fees,
including tuition, matriculation, athletic, library, laboratory, medical,
military training, diploma and graduation fees, at the expense of the
Government, subject to rules and conditions promulgated by the
Administrator.

SECTION 2.
Section 3 of Republic Act No. 7696 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 3. Eligibility — A veteran as defined in Section 2(a) of this Act who.
is at least sixty-five (65) years old shall be paid an old-age pension of
Seven thousand Five hundred pesos (P7,500.00) monthly for life, unless he
is actually receiving a similar pension for the same consideration from

other-government funds or from the United States Government:

SECTION 3.
Section 4 of Republic Act No. 7696 is hereby amended to read as follows:


Section 4. Pension of Surviving Spouse — The surviving spouse of a veteran
as defined in Section 2(a) of this Act shall, regardless of age, be paid a
pension of Seven Thousand Five hundred pesos (P7,500.00) monthly until
he/she remaries or dies, unless he/she is actually receiving a similar
pension for the same consideration from other government funds or from
the United States government. This pension is separate and distinct from
the death pension granted under Section 12 of this Act:

SECTION 4.
Section 7 of Republic Act No. 7696 is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 7. Burial Assistance — Unless the person who defrayed the
expenses for the funeral of a deceased veteran is entitled to a similar
benefit from the United States Government, he/she shall be given Thirty
thousand pesos (P30,000.00) as burial assistance upon application
therefore in due form which shall be filed within two (2) years from the
death of the veteran concerned.

SECTION 5. FUNDING - Funds for the purpose of this Act shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations of the Deparment of National
Defense (DND) and such funds required for the initial implementation of
benefits adjusted or upgraded under this Act shall be taken from the
available savings and funds of the National Government.

Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued
implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act (GAA).


SECTION 6. TRANSITORY PROVISION — Existing industries, businesses and
offices affected by the implementation of this Act shall be given six (6)
months transitory period from the effectivity of the IRR or such other period
as may be determined, to comply with the requirements of this Act.

SECTION 7. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. - The departments
and agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of this Act shall,
within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate the

necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation.

SECTION 8. REPEALING CLAUSE. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules
and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. — If, for any reason, any section or
provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or

provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby.

SECTION 10. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen
(15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2)

national newspapers of general circulation whichever comes earlier.

Approved,