100 percent veterans’ pension hike pushed

The chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Welfare and Affairs is proposing to increase the monthly old age pension to 10,000 from the current 5,000 being received by Filipino war veterans.

Bataan Rep. Herminia B. Roman sought to amend Republic Act (RA) 6948, otherwise known as an "Act Standardizing and Upgrading the Benefits for Military Veterans and their dependents,” as amended to honor and recognize the veternas’ bravery, service and sacrifice."

"The proposal would increase the old pension to 10,000 to augment their resources in order that the veterans may live decently and with dignity," she said in filing House Bill 6230.

She said in 1994, RA 6948 was amended by RA 7696 and increased the pension benefits by 500 per year until it reaches 5,000.

"However the current pension of 5,000 enacted almost 21 years ago, is clearly not enough to meet the basic necessities for decent living," she lamented.

"Our veterans have sacrificed much for our country. They invested blood, sweat and tears and in return, it is only fitting that we repay their service by taking care of them in their old age. People who have dedicated their lives to the service of the country should , at the very least , be able to live out the rest of their days comfortably without worrying about their basic needs," she said.

House Bill 6230, which specifically amends Section 10 of RA 6948, provides that a veteran who is at least 65 years old shall be paid an old-age pension of 10,000 monthly for life, unless he is actually receiving a similar pension for the same consideration from other government funds.

“Our veterans face a new challenge – the hardships of old age along with meager resources that they must stretch in order to survive. We must recompense them in a manner more fitting to what they have given,” Roman said. (Charissa M. Luci)