REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES set |
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES exe 09 AUG 2016 |
Quezon City awe SN

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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS }
First Regular Session PEOSTR ATION UNIT |

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
_HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

2725 BILLS AND INDEX se;
House Bit No, 2225 ND INDEX SERVICE

Explanatory Note
As of April 2015, the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office or PVAO is managing 142,044
pensioners which are receiving old age monthly pension amounting to Php 5,000. Of that
number, 12,297 are World War II veterans. Furthermore, the US Department of Veterans Affairs

provide additional regular benefits to Filipinos who served during WWII.

Although the veterans are receiving compensation for their service, they are yet to enjoy their

full and complete benefits and privileges from the American government with whom they fought
for to serve its cause, defend its territory and secure peace in the Asia-Pacific region. The
Rescission Act of 1946 of the United States stripped some Filipino WWII veterans of full
benefits as that of American veterans, despite being one of the allied nationalities who fought for
the US during the war. The Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation of the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act also waived the right of Filipino veterans to receive lifetime monthly

pension. It seems that the struggle of the veterans, now, for due benefits, is not yet over.

This bill mandates the establishment and maintenance of an Office of Veterans Affairs in the
Philippine Embassy based in the United States of America to ensure that the benefits and
privileges due to our Filipino veterans be provided and received accordingly. The said office will
represent, negotiate and lobby for the rights of the Filipino veterans with the appropriate US

offices and agencies concerned with veterans’ affairs.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

.

HON MARY ¢. ALEJANO.



REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2725

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

1 SEC. 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.

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3
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6 SEC. 2 Establishment of an Office of Veterans Affairs. For the attainment
7 of this policy, there is hereby created an Office of Veterans Affairs in the Philippine
8 Embassy in the United States of America mandated with the task of making formal
9 representations, consultations and negotiations or otherwise cause the conduct of
10 sustained and effective lobbying with appropriate offices of the legislative and
11 executive branches of the United States government and other agencies and entities
12 which can enhance the favorable consideration of the claims of Filipino veterans, The
13 official shall be in existence for five (5) years from the date of approval of this Act or
14 until the Filipino veterans shall be availed of their legitimate claims, the time of

15 which shall not exceed another five (5) years.

7 SEC. 3 Staffing. — The office of Veterans Affairs shall have a staff consisting
18 of a head of office appointed by the President of the Philippines, two (2)
19 administrative assistants assigned by the Secretary of the Department of National
20 Defense and such other locally hired personnel as the head of office may find
21 necessary. The Veterans Federation of Philippines shall submit a list of five (5) years
22 persons who could head of the Office of the Veterans Affairs and one of whom shall
23 be appointed by the President of the Philippines as a special presidential

24 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 as sums 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 fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,