House panel Oks veterans benefits increase

A key committee of the House of Representatives has approved a measure that will increase from P5,000 to P20,000 the monthly pension of Filipino veterans who fought during World War II and the Korean war.

The House committee on appropriations headed by Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles gave its go signal last week to House Bill 270 that was sponsored by Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, a neophyte administration lawmaker.

Roman thanked Nograles for fast-tracking the measure’s approval, noting that “this increase possibly spelled the difference” for the ailing veterans. He said there is now more reason to celebrate Veterans Week and Araw ng Kagitingan on April 9.

HB 270 grants the first increase in benefits for war veterans in more than two decades.

“With all the veterans of the two wars now in their late 80s and 90s, the need to increase their benefits becomes all the more imperative,” Nograles said.

Records from the Philippine Veterans Office show that there are 5,655 surviving veterans of World War II and 37,067 beneficiary spouses and children.

For the 7,420 veterans who served in the Korean War, the number has gone down to a mere 40, with living spouses numbering to 205.

Nograles and Roman said they worked hard to make sure the bill was passed in time for the commemoration of Bataan Day on April 9.

Funding was not a problem since the defense and education departments are always allotted – on a yearly basis – the biggest shares of the budget.

“Like what we did in looking for funding for the free tertiary education in SUCs starting school year 2018-2019 which amounted to P40 billion, we have allotted more than P10 billion to help our aging veterans to whom we owe a debt of gratitude,” Nograles said.

Lawmakers agreed during a recent bicameral conference committee that an additional P1.6 billion be put under the Pension and Gratuity Fund for the full settlement of the total administrative disability pension of veterans.

“Our veterans have sacrificed much for our country. They invested blood, sweat, and tears, and in return it is only fitting that we repay their service by taking care of them in their old age,” Roman said.

The late Ferdinand Marcos and Fidel Ramos, fought during World War II and the Korean War, respectively.