WHEREAS, Section 7, Article XVI of the Philippine Constitution provides that œThe State shall provide immediate and adequate care, benefits, and other forms of assistance to war veterans and veterans of military campaigns, their surviving spouses and orphans. Funds shall be provided therefore and due consideration shall be given them in the disposition of agricultural lands of the public domain and in appropriate cases, in the utilization of natural resources; 

WHEREAS, there are several existing government agencies and non-government organizations concerned with the welfare of veterans and their survivors;

WHEREAS, there is a need for overall planning and the coordination of these agencies for an integrated approach to the participation of veterans in the development of the country;

WHEREAS, there is a need for a multi-sectoral body to advise the Secretary of National Defense and the President of the Philippines towards this end;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V RAMOS, President Republic of the Philippines, do hereby order

Section 1. An Advisory Council on Veterans Affairs is hereby organized with the following membership:

Chairman:

Undersecretary for Veterans and Reserve Affairs
Department of National Defense

Co-Chairman:

President, Veterans Federation of the Philippines

Members:

a. Administrator, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office
b. Executive Vice President, VFP
c. Administrator, PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority
d. President, Philippine Veterans Bank
e. President, Philippine Veterans Investment and Development Corporation
f. Chairman, The Board of Trustees of the Veterans of World War II
g. Chairman, Filipino War Veterans Foundation, Inc.
h. Secretary General, VFP
i. Presidential Consultant on Military Affairs
j. Presidential Consultant on Police Affairs

Section 2. The Council shall be an advisory body and shall have the following functions:

a. To give advice and recommendations to the President of the Philippines thru the Secretary of National Defense on matters pertaining to the participation and involvement of veterans ™ organizations in national development programs and activities.

b. To liaison with and provide information and advice, as requested, to the Committee on Veterans Affairs, House of Representatives and the appropriate Committee in the Senate, on veterans matters which require legislation.

c. To monitor the implementation of programs and projects of veterans ™ organizations that are oriented toward national development.

d. To exercise such other functions incidental to the above.

Section 3. The Council shall be attached to the Department of National Defense which shall be responsible for supervising its activities and providing it with technical and administrative support that may be required in the accomplishment of its mission.

Section 4. The Council may call on any government agency, office or instrumentality for assistance in the exercise of its functions.

Section 5. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 20th day of September in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety Four.

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) TEOFISTO T. GUINGONA, JR.
Executive Secretary