To qualify for PVAO benefits veterans push for lower age

CEBU, Philippines —  Arguing that life expectancy has dropped to 68 years old, local veterans are pushing for the lowering of age to qualify for the benefits under the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.

Rodulfo Buma-at, vice president of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines in Central Visayas, said that lowering the age from 65 to 60 years old to qualify for PVAO benefits will give them more chance to enjoy it.

"Daghan ang mo-open nako og istorya — ang uban pinaagi og komedya pero ang uban murag tininuod g'yod...kinasing-kasing g'yod — nga unsa man unta nga himuon nato nga edad 60 nalang kanang old age pension kay murag ang 65 taas na kaayong edara," Buma-at said during a forum organized by PVAO and the Philippine Information Agency-7 to commemorate the 77th Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) yesterday.

According to the veterans, survey results show that life expectancy has dropped to 68 giving them little time to enjoy their benefits. PVAO promised to bring the concern before the Congress.

Romeo Ambut, president of Cebu AFP Retired Veterans Association, explained that the age of qualified PVAO beneficiaries is fixed by law.

"The age 65 is being covered by a republic act. It is not easy to reduce. It is in Republic Act 6948 (or the Standardizing and Upgrading the Benefits for Military Veterans and their Dependents Act). So what we are going to do or what we are going to suggest is that every organization in the area have to make position papers, then submit it to PVAO. PVAO will consolidate this, then i-lobby natin do'n sa itaas," Ambut said.

PVAO-7 head Reggie Sabandal promised to support the initiative. Sabandal said she will immediately refer the position papers to the PVAO administrator as soon as she received them.

The veterans are also complaining that they find it difficult to avail of the hospitalization and medical assistance program.

Sabandal admitted that there are complications in the hospitalization and medical assistance program because it requires a huge amount of budget.

She explained that because of the budgetary requirement the hospitalization and medical care benefits will be availed through reimbursement.

"Hospitalization and medical care is through reimbursement. Maski anywhere na mga hospitals, amo man na i-refund ug tagaan og assistance na worth P1,500 per day," Sabandal said.

PVAO is planning to partner with the private hospitals that the veterans usually go for hospitalization and medical checkups by signing a memorandum of agreement with them.

The VFP-7 also wants a Libingan ng mga Bayani for the Visayas and Mindanao.

"Minglanilla has a big military reservation that can be the site. We also have one in Iloilo, sa Dingle. For the whole region, maybe here in Minglanilla...basta may Libingan ng mga Bayani," said Joel Trompeta, chairman of the spearhead retirees association.

Sabandal said there is one in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City, but is poorly maintained. — Hannah Joy I. Yana and Hanna D. Tejada, USC Interns FPL (FREEMAN)