REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, _ 937

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN II

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Despite the veterans receiving compensation for their services to the country, they have yet to
collect their full benefits and privileges from the US government for whom they fought and
served during World War Il.

Thus, this bill seeks to establish and maintain an office of Veterans 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 (5) years
after its date of establishment or until the Filipino veterans shall receive their full benefits and
privileges, the time of which shall not exceed another (5) five years.

To ensure that the Filipino veterans enjoy their twilight years with the aid of their rightfully
eared benefits and privileges, the urgent approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.



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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. __937

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN II

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 II 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 of the 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 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.


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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. Separability Clause. If for any reason, any section or provision of this Act
is declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are
not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders or rules and regulations, and
other issuances which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,

amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,