LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, (PNA)–Administrator Ernesto Carolina of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office Administration (PVAO) disclosed that his agency’s proposal to increase the monthly pension of the World War II (WWII) veterans by 300% already passed the committee level in Congress.
Speaking to newsmen after he addressed the 69th celebration of the landing of the Allied Liberation Forces on Jan. 9, 1945, Carlina said PVAO proposed P20,000 monthly pension for each war veteran from P5,000 monthly.
He exclaimed, “What is P20,000 for those who defended our country’s independence?”
Congress’s Committee on Veterans Affairs Vice Chairman, Pangasinan Second District Representative Leopoldo Bataoil confirmed this and expressed his hope that such proposal be turned eventually into law.
At the same time, Carolina announced that PVAO has now a management division to help further manage veterans’ affairs.
There are now only about 18,000 to 19,000 living war veterans in the entire country. Of the number, 759 are from Pangasinan.