SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) eae
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )

Second Regular Session ) 18 = APRIO P252

SENATE RECE &° —

S. B.No. 1779

Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A THREE THOUSAND PESO (PHP 3,000)
INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD IN THE MONTHLY PENSION OF
WAR VETERANS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS, APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 1994, Congress, through Republic Act No. 7696, increased the monthly
old-age pension benefits of military veterans by not less than Five hundred
pesos (Php500) until their total pension shall be at least Five thousand
pesos (Php5,000) per month.' For almost 23 years, our war veterans continue to
receive the same level of monthly pension, notwithstanding inflation and the rising
cost of goods.

Today, the monthly old-age pension of Five thousand pesos (Php5,000) is
obviously not enough to cover bare necessities and deal with mounting medical bills
Hence, an increase in the pension due our war veterans is clearly necessary.

This proposed measure seeks to increase their monthly old-age pension by at
least Three thousand pesos (Php3,000) to enable our veterans, who sacrificed their
lives for our country, to live decently and with dignity

This measure would benefit around 7,000 living war veterans who are either
in the country or in the United States.? Considering that we are losing them at
approximately 300 per month and many are already bedridden or in wheelchairs, the
immediate passage of this proposal is urgently needed.

An Act Amending Certain Sections of RA 6948 otherwise known as An Act Standardizing and
Upgrading the Benefits for Military Veterans and Their Dependents

2 http://www gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/640192/pvao-chief-hopes-for-passage-of-bill-giving
p20k-monthly-pension-to-wwii-veterans/story/ accessed on April 8, 2018



The records of history will attest how our war veterans suffered the unwanted
misery of war. The severity of what they went through to maintain the resistance in
the war against the Japanese 76 years ago should be recognized through
continuous efforts to honor them such as by increasing their monthly pension by
Php3,000, at the very least. However, the government needs to act now before our
World War II veterans are all gone.

After all, the 1987 Constitution declares that, ‘[fhe 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”
(Article XVI, Section 7).

The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

SENATOR 4OEL VILLANUEVA



anew

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session ) 18 90210 P252

SENATE RECE

S.B. No. 1779

Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A THREE THOUSAND PESO (PHP
3,000) INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD IN THE MONTHLY
PENSION OF WAR VETERANS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS,

APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 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. ~ It is hereby declared the policy
of the State to alleviate the living conditions of the ordinary Filipino through
policies that provide for a decent and humane standard of living and
improved quality of life.

SEC 2. Increase in Monthly Pension. — The monthly pension of all
Filipino War Veterans shall be increased by Three Thousand
Pesos (Php3,000.00) across the board

SEC 3. Rules of Succession of Beneficiaries. — The monthly
pension shall be granted directly to the war veteran, if he is still living. Upon
the death or incapacity of the war veteran, his pension shall be released in
favor of his surviving spouse and in the latter's death or incapacity, to the
eldest legitimate child of the war veteran.

SEC. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60)
days after the effectivity of this Act, the Department of National Defense
(OND) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall issue
the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this
Act.



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SEC. 5. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the
implementation of this Act shall be charged to the appropriations of the
Department of National Defense (DND) under the current General Appropriations
Act.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. ~ Alll laws, decrees, executive orders,
rules, regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified a ccordingly.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. ~ If, for any reason, any section or
provision of this bill is declared unconstitutional or invalid, other sections or
provisions hereof shall remain in force.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen days after
publication in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,