War veterans urge next president to increase their benefits

MANILA, Philippines – World War II veterans appealed yesterday to presidential candidates to support efforts to increase the benefits given to veterans.

Justice Manuel Pamaran, a World War II guerrilla, lamented that the veterans are living “miserably” despite their sacrifice for the country.

“I think that (increasing veterans’ benefits) should be included in the platform of whoever is the candidate for the presidency. They should know the miserable situation of our veterans who are only receiving P5,000 a month. How could that keep body and soul together?” he said during ceremonies to mark the start of Philippine Veterans Week held at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Makati.

“To the candidates who claim to have love for country, they should not forget that we won’t have this free nation if not for the veterans,” he said.

Pamaran, a former president of the Hunters Reserve Officers Training Course Association, said some of his colleagues cannot even buy their own house and are forced to become informal settlers.

“I am a veteran who managed to have extra living but how about the other veterans who are living in the squatters’ area? I am feeling emotional about it because I saw how our fellow veterans sacrificed their lives in war but why are they neglected in peace?” Pamaran said.

“Why can’t the government provide them housing projects so they won’t be living in squatters area or at the mercy of their children who are after all not rich enough to support them?”

He said the P5,000 monthly pension they receive is “very small” for a decent standard of living.

Romulo Josue, a former Air Force sergeant, said the next administration should upgrade the cash benefits for war veterans.

“Because of the timely progress of our economy, they (government) should increase it (veterans’ cash benefits). The prices of goods are now expensive. The old age pension should be increased,” he said.

Josue said many veterans have not yet received the cash incentive provided by the Veterans Equity Bill, which was signed into law by US President Barack Obama last year.

Under the law, Filipino veterans who are US Citizens are entitled to a cash benefit of $15,000 while non-US citizens are eligible to receive $9,000.

Josue also called on the government to fast-track the processing of the veterans’ claims for compensation.

Defense Undersecretary for Veterans Affairs Ernesto Carolina admitted that there is a need to upgrade the veterans’ benefits.

“The regulations governing the veterans’ benefits are too old. For example, the monthly disability pension for those who lost their hands or feet is P1,700, which is too low. The minimum should be around P10,000 so this can be felt by our veterans,” Carolina said.

“We are also supporting bills increasing the P5,000 monthly pension by P1,000 a year for the next five years so it will reach P10,000 (in five years). But it would be hard to push for laws especially if these would require appropriation,” he added.

Carolina said they are also pushing for the establishment of veterans’ hospitals in the Visayas and Mindanao.

“We have only one veterans’ hospital and that is located in Quezon City,” he said.

Carolina also urged the budget department to release the P170 million allotted for disabled veterans, which is part of the 2010 national budget.

“Pity our poor veterans. Every time we release their P5,000 monthly pension, these are immediately withdrawn. Many of them are poor,” he said.

“We urge the budget secretary to fast-track the release of the funds (for disabled veterans). The veterans are already waiting for it. These funds are for those who fought for our country,” Carolina said.