REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9499, July 23, 2007

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9499, July 23, 2007 ]

AN ACT ALLOWING FILIPINO WORLD WAR II VETERANS TO CONTINUE RECEIVING PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT PENSIONS AND BENEFITS NOTWITHSTANDING SIMILAR PENSIONS AND BENEFITS PROVIDED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, THEREBY AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6948, AS AMENDED

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

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Filipino World War II Veterans Pensions and Benefits Act of 2008."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to recognize and reward the courage and heroism of Filipino World War II veterans by granting them pensions and benefits even when similar pensions and benefits are already provided by the United States Government.

SEC. 3. Amendment of Section 10 of Republic Act No. 6948, as Amended. - Section 10 of Republic Act No. 6948, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 10. Eligibility. - A veteran as defined in Section 2(a) of this Act who is at least sixty-five (65) years old shall be paid an old-age pension of Five Thousand Pesos (PhP5,000.00) monthly for life, unless he is actually receiving a similar pension for the same consideration from other government funds."

SEC. 4. Amendment of Section 11 of Republic Act No. 6948, as Amended. - Section 11 of Republic Act No. 6948, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 11. Pension of Surviving Spouse. - The surviving spouse of a veteran as defined in Section 2(a) of this Act shall, regardless of age, be paid a pension of Five Thousand Pesos (PhP5,000.00) monthly until he/she remarries or dies, unless he/she is actually receiving a similar pension for the same consideration from other Philippine Government funds. This pension is separate and distinct from the death pension granted under Section 12 of this Act."

SEC. 5. Appropriation. - The funding to carry out this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved:

(Sgd.) PROSPERO C. NOGRALES Speaker of the House of Representative

(Sgd.) MANNY VILLAR President of the Senate

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1659 and House Bill No. 3323 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on March 12, 2008.

(Sgd.) MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP Seretary General House of Representative

(Sgd.) EMMA LIRIO-REYES Secretary of the Senate

Approved: April 9, 2008

(Sgd.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO President of the Republic of the Philippines