Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

8
HOUSE BILL NO. ae

Introduced by Representative “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippine Constitution under Article XVI Section 7 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.

Unfortunately, the report of the Philippine Veterans Office of the Department of
National Defense has showed that there are around P21 Billion accumulated arrears. The
government should be able to address this concern in order to compensate the service of
‘our troops who bravely fought for our independence and freedom.

The purpose of this bill is to provide a measure that will satisfy the outstanding
obligations in favor of the veterans, military retirees and their heirs or dependents. The
funds that may be used to settle these obligations may come from utilization of the
proceeds from the development, lease, or other proprietary use of government properties.

In view thereof, the early passage of this proposed measure is highly
recommended.

“KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO
Representative
First District of Bulacan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

168
HOUSE BILL NO.
Introduced by Representative “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF ARREARS IN THE VETERANS
PENSIONS AND BENEFITS MANDATED PURSUANT TO REPUBLIC ACT NO.
7696, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT STANDARDIZING
AND UPGRADING THE BENEFITS FOR MILITARY VETERANS AND THEIR
DEPENDENTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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
provide immediate and adequate care and benefits to war veterans by allotting the
necessary funds to pay for the arrears in the payment of pensions and other benefits of the
veterans and military retirees or their dependents.

SEC. 2. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to the lease, development or use of the
following properties of the government:

a. Former site of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) at Arroceros
Street, Ermita, Manila,

b. Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City,
c. Taguig Industrial Estates,
d. Properties given by the Japanese government to the Philippine government

under the Reparations Agreement, including the Roponggi, Nampeidai and Fujimi
properties in Tokyo, and the Noniwacho and Obanoyama properties in Kobe, and

e. Other properties that may be identified by the Office of the President.


implement the actual marketing for the lease, development or use of the above properties
and to perform the following:
a. Execute and deliver, on behalf of the national government, the deeds,
Contracts and other instruments as may be necessary or appropriate to effect the
ease, development or use of said properties,

b. Engage external expertise as may be necessary in the fulfillment of its
tasks,

c. Submit periodic reports to the PVAO on the status of private sector
participation in the lease, development or use of said properties, and

d. Adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effect the
provisions of this Act.

SEC. 4. Funding Source. - All proceeds from the lease, development or use of the

properties mentioned in Section 2 hereof 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 payment of pensions and benefits to veterans
and military retirees shall be settled by the national government from other sources.
All proceeds and receipts from the lease, development or use of said properties except
operational expenses shall be remitted directly to any government bank as the depository
bank and managed by the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office for purposes of automatic
distribution of pensions and benefits directly to war veterans and military retirees.

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of National
Defense shall, in coordination with the Secretary of Finance, issue the necessary rules
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within six (6) months after its
effectivity.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances, rules
and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. - TiS Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the
completion of its publicatjo in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,