NINETEENTH CONGRESS  
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session  
 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No._________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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.  
  RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
November 11, 2022
4:53 pm
6084


NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No._________ 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING THE OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN THE 
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PRESCRIBING ITS 
FUNCTIONS AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR  
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 policy, 
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 
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, 
6084