The VFP Supreme Council shall elect from among themselves the members of the Executive Board as follows: a. One third (1/3) of the Presidents/Heads of Charter Organizations members of the Supreme Council b. One third (1/3) of the Presidents/Heads of affiliate organization-members of the Supreme Council c. Regional Presidents of the Regional Veterans Organizations-members of the Supreme Council. d. The Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the Supreme Council are Ex-Officio members. They shall act on all matters for and in behalf of the Supreme Council in between meetings of the latter.

E. COMMITTEES The Supreme Council shall have the following committees:

a. Governance Committee b. Finance and Audit Committee c. Ways and Means Committee d. Nomination and Election Committee; and e. Legislative Committee

F. MANAGEMENT The Chairman of the Supreme Council shall be the Federation President. He shall act as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Federation. The Executive Vice President who is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and such other executive officers recommended by the Supreme Council and approved by the Secretary of National Defense. There should also be a Vice-President for Operation, Vice –President for Administration, Vice-President for Finance and General Manager for VFP-IC.

G. FINANCIAL SYSTEM The VFP shall adopt a Financial system prescribed for public corporations and which is transparent, responsible, accountable. Compensation for Officers are subject to RA NO. 10149. The Annual budget of the Federation is shall be approved by SND. Member-organizations shall have proportionate share in the revenues of VFP and PVAO shall collect membership dues from pension and remit directly to VFP.

H. TRANSITION The Department of National Defense constituted Management Committee shall assist the Federation in instituting reforms in accordance with the newly approved Constitution and Bylaws. Within two (2) years from the approval of this Constitution and Bylaws, the Management Committee shall take steps to organize the Federation in accordance with Republic Act No. 2640, as amended, and other applicable laws. All member-organization shall register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) within two (2) years from membership in the Federation.

V. ROLES OF WIDOWS, SONS AND DAUGHTERS The widows, sons and daughters and orphans organization have their rightful place in the Federation and they shall be recognized in the affairs of the veterans including their entitlement to the benefits and privileges emanating from the resources granted by the State to veterans. They have no participation however in the government and management of the Federation as these rights belong only to veterans.

For more information on VFP, please call the Veterans Affairs Management Division (VAMD), PVAO at

(02)401-6106 or the VFP Headquarters at PVAO Compound, Gatpuno Antonio Villegas St. Ermita,

Manila with telephone numbers: 528-0609/10 Fax: 528-0749.

The New Constitution and By-laws of the

Veterans Federation of the Philippines

(Chartered under RA 2640)

Published by:

PHILIPPINE VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE

Strategic Communications Section

Office of the Administrator

September 2013

I. CREATION OF THE VETERANS FEDERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES The Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) was created by virtue of the Republic Act 2640 or “An Act Creating a Public Corporation to be known as the Veterans Federation of the Philippines” that was signed by the then President Carlos P. Garcia on 18 June 1960. VFP is a public corporation or a government-owned or controlled corporation (GOCC) under the control and supervision of no less than the Secretary of National Defense. As the sole representative of all veterans organizations, the VFP is mandated to uphold and defend the democratic way of life as envisioned in the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines; to represent and to defend the interest of all Filipino veterans; to coordinate the efforts of all different veterans of the Philippines in behalf of the interests of respective members; to promote mutual help among former comrades-in-arms; to perpetuate their common experiences in war, to undertake acts of charity and relief work; to preserve peace and order, to foster love of country and things Filipino and inculcate individual civic consciousness. In general, the Federation shall exist solely for purposes of a benevolent character, and not for pecuniary profit of its members.

II. VFP MEMBERSHIP As defined in Section 3 of Republic Act 2640, members of the Federation are veterans who rendered service in the naval, air, or land armed forces of the country and fought during the Philippine Revolution, World War I, World War II, Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK) or any armed conflict in which the Philippines had been involved or may be involved in the future. Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or Post-war veterans who rendered more than 10 years of military service are automatic members of the Federation provided, they had been honorably discharged or separated from service.

III. ACTIVATION OF MEMBERSHIP All veterans and surviving spouses of veterans who are pensioners of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) are mandatory members of the Federation as indicated in the Republic Act 2640. Pensioners must fill-out a VFP Membership Activation Form (attached in Old Age Pension Applications / available at PVAO & VFP) to give their consent for the deduction of membership dues and submit it to PVAO. An annual fee of P500 will then be deducted by PVAO twice (P250 in January and P250 in July) from the member’s pension in accordance with the Section 8 of Republic Act 7696 (An Act Standardizing and Upgrading the Benefits for Military Veterans and their Dependents).

IV. BENEFITS TO MEMBERS Members of the VFP are entitled to following benefits: To avail of veterans benefits and services lobbied legislated by Congress and implemented by the national

government as a result of VFP’s lobbying efforts such as those provided by the State through the PVAO To enjoy additional veterans benefits and services legislated by way of ordinances and proclamations from

local government units that result from VFP’s effective lobbying and negotiations To participate in the affairs of the of the Federation and the management of its corporate and real estate assets. To vote and be voted upon as officers, members of the Supreme Council and the Executive Board To be effectively represented in Congress in lobbying legislation that would further improve the welfare of

veterans and their families. To join and benefit from medical outreach missions and other activities of the Federation

V. CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS A. TYPES OF VFP ORGANIZATIONS

Charter Organizations- Organizations named in Section 1 of Republic Act No. 2640 Affiliate Organizations- Organizations integrated by veterans ( 50 members at least) under the following categories: Fraternal Organizations - Integrated by veterans bound together by common experiences Regional Veterans Organizations - Integrated by veterans residing or found in the same geographical areas.

B. MEMBERSHIP Membership in different veteran organization is allowed subject to limitations. Widows, sons and daughters are allowed to organize into separate, exclusive and independent organization and may affiliate with the Federation as Associate member only not entitled to vote or be voted upon, but entitled to all the benefits accruing to a regular member. Only two widows, sons and daughters organizations are Charter Members.: the Philippine Association of War Widows, Parents And Orphans and the Gold Star Mothers and United War Widows and Orphans Association of the Philippines. Any WIDOW, SON or DAUGHTER of veterans may become a member of any affiliated veteran organization

as Associate member only without the right to vote or be voted upon.

C. NATIONAL ANNUAL ASSEMBLY

Pursuant to RA 2640, the National Annual Assembly of Members is held every year “when the annual report

of the Federation shall be presented, and members of the Supreme Council and officers shall be designated and

elected.” Thus, under the new Constitution and Bylaws particularly Article VII, Section 2 thereof, the affiliated

members convene annually to elect the members of the Supreme Council and the Officers, among others.

D. SUPREME COUNCIL

The governing body of the Federation is the Supreme Council elected in the annual assembly of member organizations as provided for in Sections 7, RA No. 2640, thus: “The governing body of the said Federation shall be its Supreme Council. The number, qualifications, manner of election and terms of office of the members of this Supreme Council and of the officers of the Federation shall be prescribed by its own constitution and by-laws. Xxx…” The Supreme Council shall be composed of not more than thirty five (35) eligible veterans as follows:

a. Chairman/Federation President; b. Vice-Chairman; c.Presidents/Heads of Charter Organizations;

d.Presidents/Heads of Affiliated Fraternal Organizations; and e.Regional Presidents/Heads of Regional Veterans Organizations The members of the Supreme Council shall be elected for one (1) year by the eligible member-organizations at the annual general assembly from the list of eligible candidates approved by the Secretary of National Defense. The Council shall submit to the Secretary of National Defense the list of eligible candidates from those who filed their Certificates of Candidacy, and from which list, the Secretary of National Defense shall select and approve the final list of candidates.