Increased burial assistance for PHL vets to take effect Dec. 12

The new rate for burial assistance extended by the government to Filipino veterans will take effect starting December 12, the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) said Friday.

According to PVAO administrator Ernesto Carolina, the implementation of the new rate will only start 15 days after the publication of the law in the government website Official Gazette.

The new rate — from P10,000 to P20,000 — was contained in a new law signed by President Benigno Aquino III late November.

Aquino approved the enactment of Republic Act No. 10649, or “An Act increasing the burial assistance for veterans from Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000) to Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000),” on November 27, amending for the purpose Republic Act No. 6948, as amended by Republic Act No. 7696.

According to the law, a veteran is:

– any person who rendered honorable military service in the land, sea or air force of the Philippines
– was a member of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) and the Philippine Civic Action Group (PHILCAG)
– honorably discharged or separated after at least 20 years total cumulative active service, or separated due to injury or sickness incurred in the line of duty

The veterans, meanwhile, welcomed the signing of the law.

“While nobody wants to die, it is a sad reality that the cost of dying has gone up and we need to alleviate the pain and financial burden of the families of deceased veterans,” said retired Lt. Gen. Raul S. Urgello of the Filipino War Veterans Foundation, Inc. (FILVETS).

He described the new law as “a long awaited benefit.”

“The last time Congress increased veterans benefits was in April 1994, or more than two decades ago,” Urgello noted.

At the House of Representatives, Bataan Rep. Herminia B. Roman, who chairs the committee on veterans affairs and welfare, has appealed for the approval of other bills giving assistance to veterans.

These include House Bill No. 2367, which seeks to increase the pension of WWII, Korean, and Vietnam war veterans who are not receiving pension from the Armed Forces of the Philippines to P20,000, and a Senate bill seeking to increase the old age pension by P1,000 annually until it reaches P10,000. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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