MANILA, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Gloria Arroyo urged U.S. President George W. Bush to "immediately sign" into law two bills that would benefit Filipino World War II veterans, once the bills were passed by the U.S. Congress, the Philippine Presidential Office said late Saturday.

    Arroyo relayed the message to Bush at the ongoing Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' meeting held in Sydney, Australia, said a statement on the website of Malacanang, the Philippine president's palace.

    The bills -- the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 (HR 70) and the Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 (S. 1315) - seek to expand benefits for Filipino veterans who served under U.S. command during World War II, among other purposes.

    The two bills, both under consideration in the U.S. Congress, "will finally provide pension benefits for Filipino veterans," Malacanang said.

    If ever, the two laws will benefit about 18,500 surviving Filipino veterans, around 6,000 of whom are living in the United States and another 12,000 in the Philippines, it added.

    More than 200,000 Filipino soldiers fought in World War II as U.S. nationals in three years of war against Japanese troops and many of them have died since.

    Decades after fighting side-by-side with U.S. forces during the second world war, Filipino veterans have yet to be fully recognized for their role. Many still have to struggle for pensions now enjoyed by their U.S. counterparts who fought in the same war.

    "Passed into law, this will be a profound gesture reflective of the deep and abiding relations between the Philippines and the United States and the Filipino and American peoples' shared commitment to uphold the values of democracy and justice for all," Arroyo said in her message to Bush.