Full benefits only for legit war vets

PILAR, Bataan – Owing to the war veterans’ gallantry that led to liberation, President Benigno Aquino III disclosed yesterday that only legitimate veterans have been receiving full benefits through the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office’s (PVAO) Pensioner’s Revalidation Program.

During yesterday’s observation of the 73rd Araw ng Kagitingan, the President said the validity rate of the pensioner accounts list rose to 99.95 percent in 2014, removing unqualified individuals in the list that allots monthly pension to beneficiaries.

“The money set aside for you now goes directly to you,” he said to the hundreds of aging war veterans and their families coming from different parts of the country who braved the arduous and sultry travel up the Mt. Samat Shrine.

With the digitization of accounts, the number of pension accounts of living veterans and of dependents of injured or deceased veterans handled by the PVAO has increased to 198,169, as of March 2015. According to PVAO, beneficiaries under the old-age pension receive P5,000 monthly.

For educational support, Aquino said the government since 2010 has supported 15,571 dependents of veterans in their studies who receive P36,000 each every year. This totals to an allocation of P305.2 million under PVAO’s Educational Benefits Program since the present administration assumed office.

For health support, veterans are assured of the necessary healthcare which the President said has expanded to financial assistance for operations concerning cataracts, coronary angiogram, angioplasty, cardiac bypass, and chemotherapeutic agents, through the Veterans Memorial Medical Center and other public hospitals.

“Since July 2010, 8,760 veterans and their dependents have benefitted from this service, which in sum amounts to 81.6 million pesos. We also provide subsidies for medical products such as orthopedic implants and prosthesis, hearing aids, and dentures,” he said.

Aquino laid a wreath in the Colonnade Area of the shrine in remembrance to the deceased war veterans, alongside US Ambassador Philip Goldberg and Japanese Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa.

Goldberg said the war 73 years ago is akin to the present times albeit the challenge now is the fight against terrorism and responding to national calamities. He also reaffirmed the support of US to the Philippines in mutual defense.

“Whether we are fighting terrorism or responding to the disaster of national calamities, we face them together and when the Philippines is, it is not alone,” he said.

Goldberg also recalled the law signed by US President Barack Obama in 2009 that provides $245 million to 18,944 eligible World War II veterans.

Over $7.5 million went to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center for the purchase of medical equipment, and $5 million was allotted to restore the eternal resting places of thousands of Filipinos and Americans service members and their families at Clark, Pampanga.

His first time to partake in the Araw ng Kagitingan rites, Ishikawa underscored the staunch partnership between Japan and the Philippines.

He said Japan is the number one trading partner of the Philippines, and has always been one of the largest investors as well as donor for overseas development assistance that contribute hugely to projects for infrastructure and socio-economic growth.

“We provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief when typhoon Yolanda devastated the country. Peace building in Mindanao has also become one of the priorities for assistance from Japan,” Ishikawa said.

He added that Japan’s role as a peace-loving nation for the past 70 years will remain unchanged, “70 years ago, we were enemies, now we are friends, close friends,” Ishikawa said.