BillBuddy
Back to bill feed
Social Welfare
BillHBN-730120th Congress

Philippine Veterans Month

Enacted into law Filed Feb 12, 2026
◷ Where it standsIn Enacted
FiledCommittee2nd Reading3rd ReadingBicamEnacted

Filed on February 12, 2026, and approved on third reading by the House of Representatives on February 11, 2026. The bill has been consolidated with SBN-1719 and is now awaiting implementation as Republic Act No. 12320, signed into law on May 26, 2026.

Should you care?
Relevance to you
Moderate

The bill addresses the need for recognition and support for Filipino veterans, which is a significant issue in the country.

Filipino veteransFamilies of veteransStudentsTeachers
Timeliness
Routine

The bill is timely as it addresses ongoing needs for veteran recognition and support, but it is not urgent as there are no immediate crises driving its passage.

Affects you ifFilipino veteransVeterans' familiesStudents in schoolsLocal government unitsCommunity organizations
Impact assessment
AI read — verify with source
Overall impact
4.2/ 10
Long title

Philippine Veterans Month

Plain-language summary
✦AI Summary

This bill declares April of every year as 'Philippine Veterans Month' to honor the sacrifices of Filipino veterans and promote their well-being through various activities and programs.

What this bill actually requires
RequiresThe Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) and other agencies must conduct activities to promote the celebration of Filipino veterans.
RequiresGovernment and non-governmental organizations must conduct programs for the commemoration and benefit of Filipino veterans and their families.
DeadlineThe PVAO, Department of National Defense (DND), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Education (DepEd) must promulgate rules and regulations within 90 days after the effectivity of this Act.
DeadlineThis Act takes effect 15 days after publication.
ⓘ AI-generated — verify with the source.↗ Official Senate PDF
What changes from current law

Compared with current law:

Today

No official month dedicated to veterans.

This bill

April is now officially recognized as 'Philippine Veterans Month'.

Today

Limited awareness of veterans' contributions.

This bill

Increased activities to honor and memorialize veterans.

Today

Lack of structured programs for veterans' well-being.

This bill

Mandates programs to improve veterans' access to benefits.

ⓘ AI-generated comparison — verify against the bill and the cited law.
Ask this bill

The Philippine Veterans Month aims to honor the heroism and sacrifices of Filipino veterans, promote their well-being, and educate the youth about their contributions to the country.

Source · full text
Issue areas
Social WelfarePhilippine Veterans MonthFilipino veteransNational DefenseVeterans' familiesEducation in schools

✦ Dashed tags are AI-suggested nuance; solid tags follow the committee taxonomy.

Legislative history
Feb 12, 2026Senate
Introduced by Representatives RAYMOND DEMOCRITO C. MENDOZA, RUDY S. CAOAGDAN DPA., FAUSTINO V "INNO" A. DY, FERDINAND ALEXANDER A. MARCOS, DIBU S. TUAN, et. al.;
Feb 12, 2026Senate
Approved on Third Reading by the House of Representatives on February 11, 2026;
Feb 12, 2026Senate
Sent to the Senate requesting for concurrence;
Feb 24, 2026Senate
Read on First Reading and Referred to the Committee on NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY, PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION;
Mar 4, 2026Senate
Returned by the Committee on NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY, PEACE, UNIFICATION AND RECONCILIATION per Committee Report No. 40, recommending that it be considered in SBN-1719;
Mar 4, 2026Senate
Committee Report Calendared for Ordinary Business;
Mar 4, 2026Senate
SUBSTITUTED BY SBN-1719 UNDER COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 40.
Mar 18, 2026Senate
House of Representatives adopted SBN-1719 as an amendment to HBN-7301;
Apr 14, 2026Senate
Letter from Senate Secretary Mark Leandro Dong L. Mendoza, transmitting nine (9) enrolled copies of SBN-1719 and HBN-7301, for the signature of Speaker Faustino Bojie G. Dy III and Secretary General Atty. Cheloy E. Velicaria Garafil, MNSA;
Apr 27, 2026Senate
Letter for Senate Secretary Mark Leandro Dong L. Mendoza, returning eight (8) enrolled copies of SBN-1719 and HBN-7301, which were signed by Speaker Faustino Bogie G. Dy III and Secretary General Atty Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil, MNSA;
Apr 29, 2026Senate
Enrolled copies of SBN-1719 and HBN-7301, sent to the Office of the President for the signature of the President of the Philippines, His Excellency, President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.;
Jun 23, 2026Senate
Considered in SBN-1719 which was approved and signed into law by the President of the Philippines, His Excellency, President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. on May 26, 2026 and became
Jun 23, 2026Senate
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 12320.
✦ AI insight

Fast-tracked: the bill was approved on third reading in the House just one day after filing and was quickly sent to the Senate, where it was substituted by SBN-1719 on March 4, 2026. The House adopted the Senate version on March 18, 2026, indicating strong legislative support.

Tap a term to decode it
Floor activity

Plenary deliberations (interpellation, amendments, sponsorship) will appear here as they are recorded.

Full text
HBN-7301 — verbatim textAs filed

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES TWENTIETH CONGRESS First Regular Session HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H. No. 7301 BY REPRESENTATIVES MENDOZA, CAOAGDAN, DY (F.), MARCOS, TUAN, MACAPAGAL-ARROYO AND EMANO AN ACT DECLARING THE MONTH OF APRIL EVERY YEAR AS THE "PHILIPPINE VETERANS' MONTH" Be il enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Veterans' Month".

SEC. 2. In recognition of the heroism, sacrifices, and commitment to service by the

Philippine Veterans to the country and the Filipino people, the month of April of every year is hereby declared as the "Philippine Veterans' Month".

SEC. 3. The Philippine Veterans' Month aims to:

(a) Strengtben the commitment to honor and memorialize the Filipino veterans for their services and sacrifices in fighting for peace, freedom, and security of the country and the Filipino people. The month-long commemoration will provide adequate time to remember the heroism and valor of veterans, and intensify patriotism among Filipinos through more creative and impactful activities.

(b) Create a platform that amplifies veteran's voices, preserves their stories, and inspires future generations by deepening youth understanding of Philippine history: especially the significant roles Filipino veterans played in conflicts, disasters, and wars - from fighting for the freedom of the country to helping ordinary citizens. (c) Highlight the plight of Filipino veterans with emphasis on promoting their well- being as well as that of their families, and to ensure the quality of and access to the benefits that they are entitled to receive. (d) Institutionalize the annual celebration through programs and activities pursuant to the observance of the "Philippine Veterans" Month".

SEC. 4. Government, non-govemmental organizations, local goverament units, and other

stakeholders are to conduct activities and programs for the commemoration and benefit of the Filipino veterans and their families across the country, such as: (a) Production of publicly accessible media content on the individual experiences and stories of Filipino veterans; (b) Integration of stories about the services and sacrifices of Filipino veterans as part of the Philippine history subjects in schools nationwide; (c) Creation of a platform that will connect and allow interested Filipinos to contribute and participate in volunteer programs that provide accessible and quality services for the Filipino veterans; and (d) Pursuit of policies, programs, and projects that, through collaboration with various stakcholders, ensure the adequate provision of and improve the access to quality services, especially for those in far-flung communities and conflict areas.

SEC. 5. The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), the Department of National

Defense (DND), in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government

1 (DILG), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Education (DepEd), and other relevant government agencies, are mandated to conduct and enhance activities and programs that promote the celebration of our Filipino veterans, their patriotic sacrifices, and the essential role in protecting the country and the Filipino people towards raising awareness and fostering love for the country among the Filipinos, especially the youth.

SEC. 6. Within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act, the PVAO, DND, DILG,

DOH, and DepEd shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. Such IRR shall take effect immediately thereafter.

SEC. 7. If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the provisions

not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 8. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, presidential proclamations, rules

and regulations, or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official

19 Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,

Reproduced from the Senate document. The official PDF is the authoritative version.