TEIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
1 
I 
S E N A T E  
S.B. No. 25cc 
Introduced by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 7, Article XVI of the 1987 Constitution provides that “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.” 
Despite said provision, the government has continually failed to provide the 
necessary funding for the adequate compensation and assistance of our veterans and 
military retirees. Every year, their number constantly increases and the problem on the 
delayed processing of their claims is a perennial problem due to lack of sufficient 
tbnding. 
It is incumbent upon the government to resolve this sad plight of our war heroes. 
These veterans and military retirees righthlly deserve the recognition for their sacrifices 
in defending our country and our treasured freedom. 
This bill seeks to address the increasing arrears of the government for the 
pensions and benefits of our veterans and military retirees which have amounted to 
billions of pesos over the years. As annual appropriations could not cope with the rising 
number of pensioners and their beneficiaries, it is but necessary to explore ways to 
address these needs. As such, this bill proposes that proceeds from the development, lease 
or use of government properties shall be utilized solely for the payment of pension and 
benefits of war veterans and military retirees and for no other purpose. 
Therefore, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PJ4ILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
. .  
t 
Introduced by Senator RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR. 
AN ACT MANDATING THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE 
DEVELOPMENT, LEASE OR USE OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES FOR 
VETERANS’ PENSIONS AND BENEFITS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the PhiKippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declnrntion of 
PoIicy. - Consistent with the constitutional 
mandate to provide immediate and adequate care and benefits to war veterans, it is 
hereby declared the policy of the State to provide the necessary h d s  to pay arrears in the 
veterans and military retirees’ pensions and benefits. 
SECTION 2. Covernge. - This Act shall apply to the lease, development or use, 
as the case may be, of the following properties of the government: 
a.) the former site of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) at Aroceros 
Street, Ermita, Manila; 
b.) the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City; 
c.) the Veterans Center in Taguig, Metro Manila: 
d.) the properties given by the Japanese government to the Philippine government 
under the Reparations Agreement, including the Roppongi and Nampeidai 
properties in Tokyo and the Naniwa-cho and Obanoyam properties in Kobe; 
and 
e.) other properties that may be identified by the President of the republic of the 
Philippines, as recommended by the Secretary of National Defense. 


SECTION3. Utilization of ProceedS for Veterans and Militaty Retirees’ 
Pensions and Benefits. - All proceeds from the lease, development or use of the 
aforesaid properties shall be utilized to fund pensions and benefits of veterans and 
military retirees, whether in arrears or due for payment by the national government: 
Provided, that any shortfall in payment of pensions and benefits to veterans and military 
retirees shall continue to be assumed by the national government from other sources, and 
that this Act is not intended to be in full satisfaction of said pensions and benefits; 
Provided, firther, that all proceeds and receipts from the lease, development or use of 
said properties except operational expenses, shall be remitted directly to a separate 
account to any government bank as the depository bank, and disbursed by the PVAO for 
purpose of distribution of pensions and benefits directly to war veterans and military 
retirees, and for no other purpose. 
SECTION 4. Rivatizaflbn CounciI and Privatizatibn Management L@ce 
AS 
Implementing Agencies. - For purposes of implementing the provisions of this Act, the 
Privatization Council (PC) is hereby empowered to direct, supervise and coordinate 
private sector participation in the lease, development or other use of the above properties, 
in order to generate maximum cash recovery for the benefit of war veterans and military 
retirees. 
The Privatization Management Ofice (PMO) is hereby authorized to implement 
the actual marketing for the lease, development or use of the above properties after 
securing the prior approval of the Council: to execute and deliver, on behalf of the 
national government, the deeds, contracts and other instruments as may be necessary in 
the filfillment of its tasks; to submit periodic reports to the Council and to the PVAO on 
the status of private sector participation in the lease, development or use of said 
properties; and to adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effect the 
provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 5. Sale of Covered Rope&*es. - Any sale of the aforesaid properties 
shall be remitted directly to the same account as the lease, development and use of the 


covered properties, and shall likewise be disbursed by the PVAO for purpose of 
distribution of pensions and benefits directly to war veterans and military retirees, and for 
no other purpose; Provided, that such sale shall first secure the approval of the President 
of the Philippines, upon recommendation of the Secretary of the National Defense. 
SECTION6. Implementing Rules. - The Department of National Defense, 
through PVAO, the Department of Finance through the PMO, in coordination with the 
Committees on National Defense of the Senate the House of Representatives, 
respectively, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations for this Act within 
six months aRer enactment thereof. 
SECTION 7. Separabiliq Clause. - If, for any reason, any portion or provision 
of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional, other parts or provisions hereof which are 
not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 8. Repenling CZause - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations and other issuances or portions thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 9. Effectiviq. - This Act shall take effect ffieen (15) days following 
the completion of its publication in two national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,