Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

oo

4

House Bill No._ 9

Introduced by Hon. Rodolfo G. Biazon

EXPLANATORY NOTE
‘The Constitution provides under Section 7, Article XVII:
“The 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. xxx”

Despite said mandate, the government has miserably failed to provide the veterans and
military retirees with adequate compensation and assistance.

The veterans risked their lives defending our country during World War II. Military
retirees on the other hand struggled to uphold democracy by battling the enemies of the State.
‘Their commitment to the nation is a value that the State must recognize and cherish, yet it is
unconscionable that the State regularly fails to recognize these sacrifices by the simple
gesture of ensuring adequate care, assistance and benefits.

‘The national government over the past 15 years owes war veterans and military
retirees around P42 Billion in pension and other benefits. The Philippine Veterans Affairs
Office (PVAO) under the Department of National Defense reported that for the year 2005
alone, there is about four to five billion peso inadequacy in its appropriations.

‘The act of appropriating funds through the national budget for this purpose is
obviously insufficient. The funding requirements for the veterans and military retirees will
continuously grow over the years. As such, it is necessary to find creative ways to utilize
government assets to address these needs.

This bill, through the utilization of proceeds coming from the development, lease or
use of certain government properties, would enable the government to respond to its
obligation to veterans and military retirees without putting additional pressure to the chronic
budgetary deficit.

In view thereof, passage of this bill is earnestly sought

of FO é |AZON

Representative
Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session
-
House Bill No.

Introduced by Hon. Rodolfo G. Biazon

AN ACT
MANDATING THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE
DEVELOPMENT, LEASE OR USE OF CERTAIN GOVERNMENT
PROPERTIES FOR PAYMENT OF PENSIONS AND OTHER BENEFITS OF
‘THE VETERANS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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

Section One. Coverage. ~ This Act shall apply to the lease, development or
use, as the case may be, of the following government properties:

a. The former site of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) at
Arroceros St, Ermita, Manila;

b. The Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City; and

¢. The Taguig Industrial Estate.

Sec. 2. Utilization of Proceeds for Veterans and Military Retirees’ Pension
and Benefits. — All proceeds from the lease, development or use of the aforesaid
properties shall be utilized to fund the pension and benefits of veterans and military
retirees, whether in arrears or due for payment by the national government; Provided,
that any shortfall in the payment of said pension and benefit shall continue to be
assumed by the national government from other sources: Provided further, that all


proceeds and receipts under this Act, excluding operational expenses, shall be
remitted directly to the Philippine Veterans Bank as the depository bank and managed
by the PVAO as administrator.

Sec. 3. Duties of the PVAO. — The PVAO Administrator is hereby authorized
to direct, supervise and coordinate private sector participation in the lease,
development or use of the aforesaid properties; to secure possession of and the

preservation of the sam

10 engage external expertise as may be necessary; and, to
submit periodic reports thereon to the Department of National Defense (DND).

Sec. 4. Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of National Defense, the
Secretary of Budget and Management and the Secretary of Finance shall formulate the
rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 5. Separability Clause. — If for any reason, any section or provision of
this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other sections or provisions hereof,
unaffected thereby, shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive issuances or parts thereof
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Sec. 7. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspaper of
general circulation.

Approved,