DND welcomes increase in pension for war vets

MANILA, Philippines — The defense department welcomed President Duterte’s approval of the increase in monthly pension from P5,000 to P20,000 of the already dwindling number of veterans of World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars.

As of last year, only 6,000 Filipino war veterans are still alive and stand to benefit from the newly signed pension law.

“The Department of National Defense (DND) welcomes the passage of Republic Act 11164 increasing old age pension of World War II, Korean War and Vietnam war veterans from P5,000 to P20,000,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.

He added that the old law covering war veterans’ pension was enacted more than 20 years ago and the amount provided is insufficient to sustain the needs of senior and surviving veterans.

In fact, most of the country’s war heroes from these three wars are dead and cannot enjoy the pension hike.

Those still alive could barely stand and are in wheelchairs, as shown in the recent US-sponsored event in honor of surviving World War II Filipino veterans held at the US embassy compound in Manila.

But just the same, Lorenzana thanked the country’s legislators and the national leadership for giving the surviving senior Filipino veterans what is due them.

“This is one way by which a grateful Filipino nation honors our veterans’ sacrifices and heroic deeds,” he said.

Lorenzana said the pension hike would encourage the youth to follow the veterans’ footsteps and become themselves future defenders, leaders and patriots of the republic.