Giving Preference to Veterans in Appointments to Government Positions

June 18, 1955

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1363

AN ACT TO GIVE PREFERENCE TO VETERANS IN APPOINTMENTS IN THE GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED OR SEMI-GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. The policy of the Government is to give preference, other considerations being approximately equal, to persons who are veterans under section four of this Act.

SECTION 2. Accordingly, appointing officers shall give preference to veterans when extending appointments to positions in the government, in semi-governmental corporations, and government-controlled corporations. Appointing officers who knowingly violate the provisions of this Act shall be punished by a fine of one month's pay for the first violation, and dismissal from the service for the second violation.

SECTION 3. The provisions of this Act shall not refer to positions which are confidential in nature, or policy-determining, or of highly technical nature. cd

SECTION 4. The term "veteran" as employed in this Act shall refer to: (1) veterans of the Philippine Revolution as certified to by the Board of Pensions for Revolutionary Veterans; (2) veterans of World War II as certified to by the Philippine Veterans Board; and (3) honorably discharged soldiers and officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who have served therein for at least five years.

SECTION 5. In order to enable a veteran to obtain preference under the provisions of this Act, it must be shown that he has approximately the same qualifications as other applicants. It is not intended that a veteran shall have priority over civil service eligibles unless he himself is of the same or higher civil service eligibility.

SECTION 6. The President of the Philippines shall, within thirty days of the effectivity of this Act, promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the intent and purpose of this Act.

SECTION 7. Section eleven of Republic Act Numbered Sixty-five is amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 11. The provisions of Commonwealth Act Numbered Four hundred forty-one to the contrary notwithstanding, the NARRA shall set aside and reserve any of the agricultural lands under its administration for the exclusive settlement of the persons mentioned in sections one and two hereof, as well as of the persons entitled to the benefits of the next preceding section, who desire to own their own farms and who apply therefor within twenty-five years from the approval of this Act, and may for the same purpose and upon the request of the Board, arrange for the acquisition, in the manner outlined in the aforesaid Act, of any other agricultural land which, in the sound judgment of the Board, is best fitted for the purpose herein set forth. The persons herein mentioned shall be entitled to the same benefits, privileges, facilities and help granted by said Act to other settlers".

SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, June 18, 1955.

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 51, No. 8, p. 3941 in August 1955