SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
3 ~1 
S. No. 
v 
Introduced by SENATOR PIA S. CAYETANO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
:itt~~lh' 
U}!ft;r (~f Hr~ $,"''{N1t4i't\t 
"13 
JUL -3 P12:29 
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. 
tpA ~) 
SENATO' ~IA rCAYETANO 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
~l?nutr 
(~Hn't ;"f t~t' ;~~'nr-ttHil 
'13 
JUL -3 P12 :29 
SENATE 
t 
331 
rwc·· 
!w; 
S. No. 
------------------------------------------------------~---------------------------------------------
Introduced by SENATOR 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 2013 . 
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 on 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 Phil health. - The Phil health 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,OOO.OO). 
Section 7. 
Fund. -
An 
initial fund 
in 
the amount of Ten Million 
Pesos 
(Php10,OOO,OOO.OO) 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. 10. Effectivity. - The provisions 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.,