Jinggoy wants pension of disabled war veterans raised to P4.5K

(MALAYA) SEN. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada yesterday urged his colleagues to support the upgrading of the monthly pension of disabled war veterans that has been in effect for the past 28 years.

In sponsoring Senate Bill No. 1480 under Committee Report No. 11 or an Act Rationalizing the Disability Pension of Veterans, which seeks to amend RA 6948 or an Act Standardizing and Upgrading the Benefits for Military Veterans and their Beneficiaries, Estrada cited the need to increase the monthly disability pension of 4,386 veterans because their pension has decreased in value over time.

Under the existing provisions of RA 6948, the pension rates for veterans who were disabled due to sickness, disease, wounds, or injuries sustained in the line of duty range from P1,000 to P1,700.

Estrada said the amount received by disabled war veterans should be increased to P4,500 at the minimum, while the other prescribed rates need to be rationalized to as much as P10,000.

He said the increase will benefit qualified beneficiaries among 4,386 veteran pensioners, 204 of whom are already centenarians, the oldest being a 112-year-old World War II veteran; 2,276 spouses and 795 minors.

“Needless to say, the amount is already grossly inadequate to provide for their needs, considering the high cost of living today and the state of health they are in. By all metrics, the value of P1,000 in 1994 is undoubtedly much, much lower in 2022, with almost 250 percent price increase since,” Estrada said.

“The value of P1,000 before is now only P287. The benefits received by the veterans is not enough, especially now that prices of commodities have also increased,” he added.

Under the existing provisions of RA 6948, the pension rates for veterans who were disabled due to sickness, disease, wounds, or injuries sustained in the line of duty receive a monthly pension which range from P1,000 to P1,700.

Estrada said the amount received by disabled war veterans should be increased to P4,500 at the minimum, while the other prescribed rates need to be rationalized to as much as P10,000.

He said the increase will benefit qualified beneficiaries of 4,386 veteran pensioners, 204 of whom are already centenarians, the oldest being a 112-year-old World War II veteran; 2,276 spouses and 795 minors.

Data provided by the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) showed there are 1,484 veterans aged between 90 to 99, most of whom are already bed-ridden, Estrada said.

He said the existing law, which was co-authored and sponsored by his father, former President Estrada, during the 8th Congress, was last adjusted in 1994.

“In their twilight years, they are still fighting, albeit a different battle altogether. It is a simple gesture of gratitude and appreciation for the invaluable service, loyalty, and gallantry of our military veterans, to whom we owe the freedom, democracy, and peace we all enjoy today,” Estrada said.

“As PVAO stated during our hearing, for our veterans, it means additional disposable income that they can use for their everyday living expenses. But more so, it is a reassurance to our veterans that we are not forgetting them and a tangible manifestation of the whole government’s continued pledge to ensure the welfare of our country’s veterans by guaranteeing their pension is responsive to their current needs,” he added. Raymond Africa/ Malaya