FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. _724

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

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 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.

RUFUS B. ROD#IGUEZ

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

724

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

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

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.

SECTION. 2. Establishment of an Office of Veterans Affairs. For
the attainment of this goal, 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, time of which
shall not exceed another five (5) years.

SECTION 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 Republic
of the Philippines as a special presidential representative who shall have a
‘comparable diplomatic rank.


SECTION 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 Veterans Affairs Office
in Washington D.C. authorized under the budget of the Department of Foreign
Affairs. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued implementation of
this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 5. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved.