War veterans listen as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. speaks during the 81st Day of Valor Anniversary at Mt. Samat National Shrine in Bataan in April 2023. (MALACAÑANG PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — A bill seeking to increase the disability pension of military veterans and their dependents now only awaits the signature of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Both chambers of Congress separately ratified during Wednesday’s session the bicameral conference committee report on the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill No. 1480 and House Bill No. 7939.
The measure will amend Republic Act No. 6948 — the Act Standardizing and Upgrading the Benefits for Military Veterans and their Beneficiaries.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, chair of the Committee on National Defense and Security, said the passage of the bill would update the monthly disability pension rates, which had remained stagnant for nearly three decades.
This, he said, would be a big help to veterans and their kin in paying for their daily expenses.
“The current P287 they receive is not enough to even watch a movie in the cinema. What more if they’ll use it for medical expenses? That’s why it is just right that we give them the benefits they deserve and also owe them,” Estrada said in Filipino.
The lawmaker said the “only minor differences” were made in the report since the House had agreed to use the Senate’s version of the measure as a working draft.
Estrada’s office provided a table on the proposed hikes in the disability pension of military veterans.
