Medialdea to lead ‘Araw ng Kagitingan’ rites on Mt. Samat today

MOUNT SAMAT, Bataan — Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea will represent President Duterte in leading today’s observance of the 76th “Araw ng Kagitingan” (Day of Valor) at this historic site of the Fall

of Bataan, while Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana who was here earlier announced benefits for veterans during the commemoration rites at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.

The Executive Secretary, together with foreign dignitaries, will lead today’s commemoration ceremony at Mount Samat Shrine, Pilar town, Bataan.

The President’s absence in Bataan Day’s commemoration is due to his scheduled departure today for Hainan, China to attend the Boao Forum.

The event starts at 9 a.m. with the wreath laying ceremony to be led by Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda, Mr. Michael Klecheski, charge d’ affaires of the US Embassy; and Secretary Medialdea. Bataan Governor Abet S.Garcia and National Historical Commission of the Philippines Chairman Dr. Rene Escalante will deliver messages.

The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the Mt. Samat Flagship Tourism Enterprise Zone (FTEZ).

The Department of National Defense (DND) chief, who was in Bataan last Friday, said aging war veterans and their families can expect the full support of President Duterte.

Speaking in the “Parangal sa mga Beterano” in Balanga City, Lorenzana said the President has “utmost care and concern for the veterans and soldiers.”

He added that as proof of this, the President is set to immediately sign the bill increasing the monthly pension of war veterans from 15,000 to 120,000 monthly once it reaches his desk.

Honoring veterans Lorenzana said programs that aim to promote the welfare of war veterans and their dependents will be the focus of today’s commemoration as he recently led the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, as part of the celebration of the 2018 Philippine Veterans Week.

“Recognizing the veterans’ great contribution to society, the Department of National Defense, through the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), endeavors to honor them through programs that intend to ensure their welfare and wellbeing and that of their families,” Lorenzana said during his speech.

The defense chief shared that from September to December 2016, a total of 14.773 billion Total Administrative Disability Pension (TADP) had been paid to 21,976 surviving spouses of deceased WWII Veterans and to 4,232 living post second world war veterans who are 80 years old and above.

Lorenzana also mentioned that President Duterte handed over 1150 million to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) for the further improvement of its facilities, services, and equipment as the President intends to provide the best hospital for the veterans. As instructed by the President, P100 million will be allotted for medical equipment and the 150 million for medicines.

PVAO’s efforts to uplift the welfare and wellbeing of Filipino veterans include their empowerment by unifying Filipino veterans organizations across the country under one umbrella organization, the Veterans Federation of the Philippines.

PVAO also continues to preserve and develop military shrines and to digitize world war records to memorialize the veterans’ heroic deeds and keep alive their ideals.

Double-pay Monday

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has issued the pay rules for today, which is a regular holiday.

In Labor Advisory No. 05-2018, the following are the pay rules for a regular holiday:

- If the employee did not work, he/ she shall be paid 100 percent of his/her salary for that day, subject to certain conditions under the implementing rules and regulations.

- If the employee worked, he/she shall be paid 200 percent of his/her regular salary for that day for the first eight hours.

- If the employee worked in excess of eight hours (overtime work), he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her hourly rate on said day.

- If the employee worked during a regular holiday that also falls on his/ her rest day, he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her daily rate of 200 percent.

- If the employee worked in excess of eight hours (overtime work) during a regular holiday that also falls on his/ her rest day, he/she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his/her hourly rate on said day. (With a report from Leslie Ann G. Aquino)