The Veterans Federation of the Philippines-Sons and Daughters Association Inc. are hopeful that the bill for increased pensions will be resurrected during the Duterte administration.
The VFP-SDAI headed by Atty. Joel Llosa says commitments made by representatives of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office about increasing veterans pension from P5,000 to P20,000 is not new but still they welcome pronouncements on plans to re-file the bill.
Brig. Gen. Restituto Aguilar, who represented Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina, administrator of PVAO, told Dumaguete and Negros Oriental veterans the proposed increase in the monthly pension was filed in the previous Congress but because of different problems besetting the country, it was shelved.
Aguilar graced the 72nd liberation day of Dumaguete City Wednesday.
To date, PVAO is trying to find allies in Congress for the refiling of the bill, in consonance with the President’s pronouncements and support of Department of National Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana, Aguilar disclosed.
According to SDAI president Llosa this is long overdue in expressing lament because the supposed beneficiaries is already diminishing in numbers.
Last year, 19 World War II veterans of the city and province were given recognition, and only 12 this year with ages reaching up to 102 years old within the year.
Llosa said their numbers is getting smaller every year.
He also lamented attempts to disband the sons and daughters associations of the veterans even as Llosa said this cant be done being registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Their only mission is to voluntary serve the veterans, he pointed out.
The PVAO said it is gradually documenting memories of World War II veterans for what they have done to the country and will publish them in books, and in other forms like comics or film production.
PVAO considered this a tall order but will make sure the future generations will not forget what these veterans have done for the country.
On the other hand, the Veterans Federation of the Philippines which was represented by veteran Manuel Carreon during the celebration disclosed that as soon as the constitution and by-laws of the VFP is approved, all sons and daughters associations incorporated will become auxiliary association members and that all benefits of the veterans can also be availed of by the SDAI.
These include educational assistance to the sons and daughters of the veterans, six months medical assistance support, medical equipment, upon the approval of the constitution and bylaws by the Department of National Defense.
Carren represented VFP president Col Bonifacio de Gracia in the 72nd liberation day of Dumaguete.
In a related development, Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo commended Wednesday the World War II veterans, saying that if not for them Dumaguete would not have been liberated in 1945.
Mayor Remollo spoke during the 72nd anniversary celebration today of the liberation of Dumaguete held at the Silliman University gymnasium.
During the ceremony, Remollo also rendered a salute along with the rest of the veterans, being a grandson of a veteran named Dr. Jose Rendon Remollo.
According to the mayor, the least that the city can do is to honor their fearlessness, sacrifices and bravery in liberating the city 72 years ago.
But the bigger challenge for the city right now is the struggle to liberate the people from the clutches of poverty, lawless violence, corruption, among others.
It is for this reason that under the Remollo administration one of the programs is to provide informal settlers of the city decent homes in order to give meaning and substance to the sacrifices made by the veterans during World War II.
On the government side, the least that officials can do is to be upright and prevent employees from the temptation of corruption and illegal drugs, Remollo pointed out.
The 72nd anniversary celebration activities were held inside the SU gym because Silliman was also liberated when the university was vacated by the Japanese occupation forces who were forced to go to the mountains.
For SU President Ben Malayang III, it was a responsibility and an honor to host the activities today.
Present during the anniversary celebration were representatives from the Veterans Federation of the Philippines and the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, including the sons and daughters of veterans in the city and the province. (Juancho Gallarde/PNA)
