Hike in burial benefits for war vets OKd

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—President Aquino has doubled to P20,000 the government’s burial assistance to war veterans, but they say the amount was not even enough to buy a cemetery plot.

Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina, administrator of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), said the veterans would start receiving the burial assistance on Dec. 12, following the President’s signing of Republic Act No. 10649 last month.

While they welcome the increase, the veterans and their relatives say P20,000 could not cover the price of a burial plot, estimated at P30,000 to P60,000.

Carolina said the PVAO would reimburse the claim as long as this was filed two years from the death of a veteran.

Congress last increased the benefits of veterans in April 1994.

War veterans are pushing for the passage of bills that seek to provide them additional pension.

House Bill No. 2367 seeks to increase to P20,000 monthly the old age pension of veterans of World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars, who are not receiving pension from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. On the other hand, Senate Bill No. 638 recommends an amount of P6,000 monthly, rising yearly until it reaches P10,000.

Also pending in Congress are HB 2511, which provides immediate aid to the family of a soldier killed in line of duty, and HB 2225 and SB 830, which establishes more hospitals for war veterans. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon