0.52 TF REPRESENTATIVES

RECEIVED
08 AUG 2016

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS ) 7
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. } Ye
First Regular Session wee O00 awe

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BY: we

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodrighiez, Jr
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House Bill No. 2576

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was originally introduced as House Bill No. 724 during the 15”
Congress where it was approved by the Committee on Veterans Affairs and Welfare,
approved on 2" reading, approved on 3" reading and was transmitted to the Senate
where it was not acted upon, It was again re-filed during the 16" COgnress where it
was approved by the House of Representatives.

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 June 2007, the Philippine Veterans Affairs logged 249,987 pensioners.
183,274 are receiving their old age pension; 16,995 their disability pensions; and
39,718 pensions were released. Of the ones receiving their old-age pension, 158,022
receive their benefits through the bank while the remaining number receives theirs
through snail 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 the Filipino
veterans shall receive 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 benefits and privileges, the urgent approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

“Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No__2570

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING THE OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS IN
THE PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
PRESCRIBING ITS FUNCTIONS AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the
government to pursue the claims of Filipino veterans of World War II and work for the
full restoration of their rights, privileges and benefits from the United States
government.

SEC. 2. Establishment of an Office of Veterans Affairs. — For the attainment of this
policy, there Is hereby created an Office of Veterans Affairs in the Philippine
Embassy in the United States of America mandated with the task of making formal
representations, consultations and negotiations or otherwise cause the conduct of
sustained and effective lobbying with appropriate offices of the legislative and
executive branches of the United States government and other agencies and entities
which can enhance the favorable consideration of the claims of Filipino veterans. The
Office shall be in existence for five (5) years from the date of approval of this Act or
Until the Filipino veterans shall have availed of their legitimate claims, the time of
which shall not exceed another five (5) years.

SEC. 3, Staffing. - The Office of Veterans Affairs shall have a staff consisting of a
head of office appointed by the President of the Philippines, two (2) administrative
assistants assigned by the Secretary of the Department of National Defense and
such other locally hired personnel as the head of office may find necessary. The
Veterans Federation of the Philippines shall submit a list of five (5) persons who
could head the Office of Veterans Affairs and one of whom shall be appointed by the
President of the Philippines as a special presidential representative who shall have a
comparable diplomatic rank.

‘SEC. 4. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this
Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations for the operational
requirements of the Ad Hoc Veterans Affairs Office in Washington D.C. authorized
under the budget of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office. Thereafter, such sums as
may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,