Military awardees not getting their privileges

CEBU, Philippines - At least two Cebuano representatives have sought an inquiry into the delay in the granting of monthly gratuity and privileges to military heroes, specifically awardees of the Medal of Valor.

Magdalo Party-list Reps. Francisco Ashley Acedillo and Gary C. Alejano, through House Resolution 1442, want an inquiry into the delay in the issuance of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 9049, otherwise known as “An Act Granting Monthly Gratuity and Privileges to an Awardee of the Medal of Valor.

They said the bill undermines the implementation of the provisions of the law.  The solons explained that the Medal of Valor is the highest award that may be given to a Filipino soldier in recognition of his or her act of gallantry above and beyond the call of duty and in total disregard of one’s safety.

A House inquiry will enable the appropriate House committee to revisit RA 9049, which was enacted on March 22, 2001, and identify the necessary amendments to afford awardees of the Medal of Valor the proper recognition and support due them, according to Acedillo and Alejano.

Acedillo said RA 9049 provides Medal of Valor awardees with adequate social services and financial rewards in recognition of their exceptional bravery.

“The rewards provided under the law also serve to encourage men and women in the military to perform heroic deeds for their country,” he said.

Acedillo said many of the awardees, however, claim that they do not enjoy the full benefits of the law. He cited a news report wherein Medal of Valor awardees asserted that they are not enjoying the full benefits of RA 9049 because of lack of awareness with regards to the provisions of the law.

The same article pointed out that due to lack of awareness, many awardees and their dependents have had to bring a copy of RA 9049, the awardees’ Medal of Valor citations and birth certificates with them to prove they are entitled to the privileges stated in the law.

“This humiliating and diminished repute of RA 9049 may have been avoided if the IRR of the law were issued by the agencies involved in the effective implementation of the Act. The IRR would have provided the guidelines and informed the concerned agencies about the proper implementation of what is stated in the law,” said Acedillo, a former Philippine Air Force pilot and officer, in a statement.

Alejano said there is a need to find out the reasons behind the blatant delay, if not inaction, of the different government agencies involved in the crafting of the IRR of RA 9049 which undermined the purpose of the law in recognizing the sacrifices made by the awardees.

Alejano said on the part of the awardees, they have proposed that their present P20,000 monthly gratuity pay be raised. He cited that Section 2 of RA 9049 provides that adjustments in the lifetime monthly gratuity pay may be done in consideration of applicable economic and social factors such as inflation rate, and that such adjustments may be done within three years following the effectivity of the act and no oftener than once every five years.

“It is hoped that by revisiting the gratuities provided for in the law, we may awaken the nationalist consciousness in the hearts and minds of the brave men and women in the military who risk their lives daily so that we may live with peace of mind,” said Alejano, a former Marine captain.  (FREEMAN)