THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
SEP 23 P5:oI 
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I\ EGE WEBS BY : _^_II__L_- 
S E N A T E  
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S.B. No. 
Introduced by SENATOR COMPANERA PIA S. CAYETANO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The so-called Filipino Comfort Women suffered tremendously during their 
ordeal in the hands of the Japanese Imperial Army. They suffered more when 
they courageously came out in the open to tell the whole world about the 
dastardly acts committed against them. The Government, however, chose to 
remain silent about their plight and simply waited for the sought-after 
recognition and compensation from the Japanese Government, a foreign 
state over which we have neither influence nor control. 
This Bill seeks to recognize the fate of these Comfort Women and 
alleviate their suffering through financial and health insurance assistance from 
the Government. 
For these reasons, approval of this Bill is urgently sought 
ffLJ-k. yh 
COMPAN RA PI S. CAYETANO 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHlLlPPlNES 
) 
SEP 23 P5:clI 
First Regular Session 
1 
6- 
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S E N A T E  
S. B. No. 
Introduced by: Senator COMPAQERA PIA S. CAYETANO 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR PENSION AND HEALTH BENEFITS TO COMFORT 
WOMEN, APPROPRIATING 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. - Title. - This Act shall be known as The Comfort Women 
Compensation and Benefit Act of 2004. 
Section 2. -Definition of Terms. - 
a. “Comfort Women” shall mean Filipino Women who were made sex 
slaves by the Japanese Occupation Army during World War II as may be 
determined by the National Commission bn Women. 
b. “NCRFW” shall mean the National Commission on the Role of Filipino 
Women. 
c. “Department” shall mean the Department of Social Welfare and 
Development. 
d. “PVAO” shall mean the Philippines Veterans Affairs Office, 
e. “Philhealth” shall mean the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation 
Section 3. Determination of Comfort Women. - The NCRFW is hereby 
tasked to determine the authenticity of the claims and identities of Comfort 
Women with the assistance of the various accredited cause-oriented women’s 
groups. Applications for the compensation and benefits herein provided for must 
be filed within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, otherwise the same 
shall forever be barred, 
Section 4. Responsibility of the Department. - The Department shall 
formulate a program for the proper counseling and guidance of Comfort Women 
taking into consideration not only their ordeal in the hands of the Japanese 
Occupational Army but more so the pain and suffering of retelling them in public. 


, 
Section 5. Duty of Phihealth. - The Philhealth is hereby mandated to 
provide free full medical insurance to Comfort Women as may be determined by 
the NCRFW. 
Section 6. Responsibility of PVAO. - The PVAO shall provide for the 
monthly pension of Comfort Women in the amount of Three Thousand Pesos 
(Php3,000.00). 
Section 7. Fund. - An initial fund in the amount of Ten Million Pesos 
(Php10,000,000.00) is hereby allocated for the processing of applications and 
payment of pensions and insurance of Comfort Women identified -by the 
NCRFW. Thereafter, the cost of the pensions and insurance shall be included in 
the budget of the PVAO and Philhealth under the General Appropriation Act. 
SECTION. 8. Separability Clause.- If any part, section, or provision of 
this Act shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions shall not be 
affected thereby. 
SECTION. 
9. 
Repealing Clause.- 
All other acts, laws, executive 
orders, presidential issuances, rules and regulations or any part thereof which 
are inconsistent herewith are hereby deemed repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION. I O .  Effectivity. - 
The piovisions of this Act shall take 
effect fifteen days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved.