FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1383 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
.~.- .... ~ 
This bill mandates the establishment and maintenance of an Office of 
Veterans Affairs in the Philippine Embassy in the United States of America (USA) to 
ensure that the Filipino veterans shall receive the benefits and privileges due them. 
As of September 2009, the Philippine Veterans Affairs logged 233,884 
pensioners. 181,830 are receiving their old age pension; 14,878 their disability 
pensions; and 37,176 death pensions were released. Of the total pensioners receiving 
their old-age pension, 181,677 receive their benefits through the bank while others 
receive their benefits through the slow regular maiL Despite the veterans receiving 
compensation for their service to the country, they have yet to collect their full 
benefits and privileges from the American government with whom they fought and 
served to obtain independence and peace. 
This bill seeks to establish and maintain an Office of Veterans Affairs in the 
Philippine Embassy in the United States of America to represent, negotiate and 
lobby for the rights of the Filipino veterans with the appropriate US offices. The 
office shall be maintained for five years after its date of establishment or until all the 
Filipino veterans shall have received their benefits and privileges! the time of which 
shall exceed another five years. 
The office shall be headed by an appointee of the President of the Philippines. 
Other staff members include two administrative assistants assigned by the Secretary 
of the Department of National Defense and other locally hired staff members. For its 
first year, the necessary funds shall be provided through the budget of the 
Department of Foreign Affairs. The amount necessary to continue the 
implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
To ensure that the Filipino veterans enjoy their twilight years with the aid of 
their ben~fits and privileges, the urgent approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1383 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN AN OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN 
THE PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 
PRESCRIBING ITS FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
1 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
2 
Congress assembled: 
3 
4 
. SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the 
5 
State to pursue the claims of Filipino veterans of World War II and work for the full 
6 
restoration of their rights, privileges and benefits from the United States 
7 
government. 
8 
. 
. 
9 
SECTION 2. Establishment of an Office of Veterans Affairs. Towards this 
10 
end, there is hereby created an Office of Veterans Affairs in the Philippine Embassy 
11 
in the United States of America mandated with the task of making formal 
12 
representations, consultations and negotiations or otherwise cause the conduct of 
13 
sustained and effective lobbying with appropriate offices of the legislative and 
14 
executive branches of the United States government and other agencies and entities 
IS 
which can enhance the favorable consideration of the claims of Filipino veterans. 
16 
The office shall be in existence for five (5) years from the date of approval of this Act 
17 
or until the Filipino veterans shall have availed of their legitimate claims, time of 
18 
which shall not exceed another five (5) years. 
19 
20 
SECTION 3. Staffing. The Office of Veterans Affairs shall have a staff 
21 
consisting of a head of office appOinted by the president of the Philippines, two (2) 
22 
administrative assistants assigned by the Secretary of the Department of National 
23 
Defense and such other locally hired personnel as the head of office may find 
24 
necessary. The Veterans Federation of the Philippines shall submit a list of five (5) 
I 


• 
1 
persons who could head the Office of Veterans Affairs and one of whom shall be 
2 
appointed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines as a special 
3 
presidential representative who shall have a comparable diplomatic rank. 
4 
5 
SECTION 4. Appropriations. The amount necessary for the initial 
6 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's 
7 
appropriations for the operational requirements of the Veterans Affairs Office in 
8 
Washington, D.C. authorized under the budget of the Department of Foreign 
9 
Affairs. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued implementation of this 
10 
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
11 
12 
13 
14 
SECTION 5. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect up6n its approval. 
Approved, 
2