Doubling amount of burial financial aid to veterans sought

MANILA, Philippines - The House committee on appropriations has approved a proposed measure, seeking to increase the burial assistance to Filipino war veterans to P20,000 from the present P10,000.

The committee,  chaired by Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, approved the proposal contained in House Bill 694 authored by Bataan Rep. Herminia Roman, chairperson of the Committee on Veterans Affairs and Welfare.

The bill seeks the amendment of Section 20 of Republic Act 6948, or known as "An Act Standardizing and Upgrading the Benefits for Military Veterans and Their Dependents."

"The present P10,000 burial assistance is unrealistic considering that we are now in 2014. The P20,000 proposal is reasonable assistance to our veterans who sacrificed their lives for our liberty and democracy. They deserve such amount. The government can afford a bigger amount of assistance to be included in the national budget," Ungab said.

During the committee hearing, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office administrator Ernesto Carolina said PVAO has no arrears in assistance to the country's veterans.

Assistant Secretary Janet Abuel of the Department of Budget and Management said the increased burial assistance would require a budget of P75 million.

She said the DBM did not interpose objection to the bill since it understands the plight of veterans.

Abuel added that for 2014, the PVAO stated it is capable of providing the appropriations for the bigger burial assistance to veterans.

A veteran is any person who rendered military service in the land, sea, air forces of the Philippines during the revolution against Spain, the Philippine-American War, World War II, including Filipino citizens who served in the Allied Forces in the Philippine territory and foreign nationals who served in Philippine forces, the Korean Campaign, the Vietnam Campaign, the Anti-Dissidence Campaign, or other wars and military campaigns.

A veteran is also anyone who rendered military service in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and has been honorably discharged or separated after at least six years total cumulative active service, or sooner separated due to death or disability arising from a wound or injury received or sickness or disease incurred in line of duty while in the active service.