SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC)
OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. 4351

INTRODUCED BY REP. HERMINIA B. ROMAN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 1990, R.A. No, 6948 entitled “An Act Standardizing and Upgrading the
Benefits for Military Veterans and Their Dependents” was enacted to provide for an
updated and rationalized benefits system for our war veterans. In 1994, R.A. No, 6948
was amended by RA No. 7696, which provided for another type of pension, the Total
Administrative Disability (TAD). Veterans, upon reaching 70 years old, are considered
totally disabled and will be entitled to a monthly pension of P1,700.00 plus P500.00 for
the spouse and each unmarried minor children.

This benefit, however, remained unfunded for almost 16 years mainly because
the Executive department never included it in its annual budget submissions to
Congress. In April 2010, a total of P149,100.00 representing 7 years and 9 months of
TAD pension, was released to World War II veterans 80 years old and above. On
January 2011, the P1,700,00 TAD monthly pension was fully implemented for eligible
VWI veterans and on September 24, 2013, all the remaining arrears from 1994 to
2002 were fully paid out

As of January 2014, the unpaid obligations of the National Government to the
veterans for the TAD pension amounted to P17.6 billion pesos. This proposed bill seeks
to stop the balooning obligations by deleting the provision which mandates the aforesaid
administrative total disability pension. The bill is prospective, not retroactive, in its
effectivity. This means that those who have been entitled to this benefit have acquired
a vested right which shall not be taken away by this bill. However, those who have not
reached 70 years old upon its effectivity shall not anymore be entitled to this benefit

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnetly sought.

Ble
HERMINIA B, ROMAN


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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC)
OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

4351

House Bill No.

INTRODUCED BY REP. HERMINIA B. ROMAN

AN ACT
FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6948 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “AN ACT
STANDARDIZING AND UPGRADING THE BENEFITS FOR MILITARY VETERANS
AND THEIR DEPENDENTS,” AS AMENDED.

Be jit enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled.

SECTION 1. Section 5 (h) of RA 6948, as amended is hereby amended to read
as follows:

(h) If and while the disability is rated anywhere from ninety-one to one
hundred per centum (91%-100%), the monthly pension shall be One thousand
seven hundred pesos (P1,700.00): plus Five hundred pesos (P500.00) for the
spouse and each unmarried minor children{:]. [Provided, That a veteran, with or
without a service-connected or nonservice connected disability, upon reaching
the age of seventy (70) is deemed totally disabled with one hundred per centum
(100%) rating and shall be entitled to a monthly pension of One thousand seven
hundred pesos (P1,700.00) plus Five hundred pesos (P500.00) for the spouse
and each unmarried minor children]

SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. - All laws or parts thereof which are inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 3. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,