Binay wants release of P17 B in disability benefits of pensioners

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay sought the immediate release of P17 billion in disability benefits to more than 80,000 pensioners, including war veterans and their surviving spouses.

In a statement, Binay said the unpaid benefits for 16, 237 widows of veterans alone amount to P2.7 billion.

“The administration has underspent on many projects from different departments and agencies. It can very surely allocate funds for the veterans and wives of deceased veterans. There were veterans who died and didn’t receive their benefits. Let’s have pity on them,” he said.

Binay said unpaid pension obligations as of 2010 reached P25 million.

A total of 28,993 war veterans started receiving their pension for 2003 to 2009 in April 2010 amounting to P4.1 billion, which came from the reform dividends of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO).

As of September 2013, the government paid P2.9 billion in pension arrears, bringing the total payment to P6.9 billion.

Binay said the government should also look for funds to settle the unpaid benefits of veterans who died before the government started paying pensions in 2010, especially for their surviving spouses aged 80 and above.

“They’re old. Their medicine is expensive. The current pension they receive is no longer enough to buy the medicine they need,” he said.

Binay expressed support for the proposal of the PVAO to increase the pension of veterans from P5,000 to P20,000 monthly.

Veterans also receive P1,000 to P1,700 disability benefit if they reach the age of 70 or were injured in line of duty.

The Vice President said the increase would benefit 14,000 veterans now in their 90s.