HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES – Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine B. Roman has announced today, that her House Bill 270 that seeks to increase the monthly pension of surviving World War 2 and Korean War veterans, has been approved on a committee level here.
“I am very happy that my bill increasing the pension of surviving World War II and Korean War veterans from 5000 pesos to 20,000 pesos monthly has been approved by the House of Representative’s Committee on Appropriations led by Rep. Karlo Nograles. Rep. Nograles’ genuine concern for the veterans and determination to make this increase possible spelled the difference,” Roman posted on her Facebook Page.
Here in the Philippines, Veterans Week is celebrated within a week before April 9 which is being observed annually as Day of Valor (Araw ng Kagitingan) in honor of Filipino and American veterans of World War II.
“Sana ay mapasa itong bill na ito sa Senado bago ang pagdiriwang ng Araw ng Kagitingan sa ika-9 ng Abril,” Roman said.
In 1994, Republic Act 6498 was amended by RA 7996 and increased the pension benefits by P500 per year until it reaches P5000. However, the current pension of 5000 pesos, enacted almost 21 years ago, is clearly not enough to meet the basic necessities for decent living, she said.
Surviving spouses of deceased war veterans are given P5000 per month. Rates for the surviving spouse pension begins at P1,000 per month, and increases annually by not less than P500, until the total pension of P5,000 per month is met.
Roman’s proposal would increase the old age pension to P20,000 to augment their resources in order that “the veterans may live decently may live decently and with dignity.”
“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 lamented.
She added that the proposed increase for the veterans is a way to show the nation’s grateful appreciation of their bravery, service, and sacrifice hence she filed in 2016 the House Bill No. 270 or “An Act Increasing the Monthly Pension of Senior Veterans Thereby Amending RA 6498, As Amended.”
“By giving due importance to what they have done in the past, we show citizens, especially the youth, what the nation values- love of country, and patriotism,” the neophyte lady solon said.