|
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Arroyo signs new pension law for WWII veterans
MT. SAMAT, Bataan -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law a bill that allows Filipino World War II veterans to continue receiving their pensions and benefits from the Philippine government even if the US Congress passes the Filipino Veterans Equity bill.
The signing of the Filipino World War II Veterans Pensions and Benefits Act of 2008 (Republic Act 9499) took place at the end of Arroyo's speech during the 66th Araw ng Kagitingan celebration here Wednesday.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
US Ambassador Kristie Kenney, Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura, representatives of Filipino war veterans, and the authors and sponsors of the bill in Congress witnessed the signing.
The new law allows Filipino World War II veterans to continue receiving their P5,000 old-age pension from the Philippine government even if they get additional benefits once the Filipino Veterans Equity bill is passed by the US Congress.
Retired General Ernesto Carolina, defense undersecretary for civil, veterans and reserve affairs, said the US Senate version of the Equity bill provides for a monthly pension of US$300-US$350 per veteran while the House of Representatives gives US$500-US$550.
Carolina said there are 240,000 pensioners of which around 60,000 are living veterans, including 30,000 who are World War II veterans. More than 18,000 Filipino World War II veterans are living in the US.
Equity bill
He said a delegation of lawmakers and officials from the executive branch will leave on April 12 to lobby for the passage of the Equity bill before the US Congress. He said the bill has been pending before the US Congress since 1955.
He said government is hoping that the bill would finally be passed by the US Congress, which would adjourn next month. He said US President George W. Bush promised Arroyo that he would sign the bill once it reaches his desk.
Carolina said the bill has always been stalled by lack of material time by the US Congress and by the lack of unity of Filipino veterans in the US.
"We are hoping that the delegation would succeed. We have very little time. It would have to be refiled if it is not passed now," he said.
The defense official said Covington and Burling LLP, the company that the Philippines employed to push for its interests in the US, would help lobby for the passage of the bill.
Great respect
Kenney, in an ambush interview, said Bush has "great respect for the veterans" and has done a lot for the Filipino veterans, including US$1 million for the Philippine Veterans Hospital per year.
In her speech, Arroyo thanked the Filipino World War II veterans for their bravery and sacrifices in defense of the Philippines' independence. She said the country should not only thank them, but should also see their needs and comfort.
The President said as of 2007, her administration has almost settled the P2 billion arrearages for the pension of more than 12,000 Filipino veterans and the educational benefits of more than 5,000 veterans' children.
She said the budget for the payment of arrears since last year has been doubled to P3.5 billion "so that hopefully all outstanding old-age pensions can be settled by the end of this year."
Kenney, in her speech, said the Filipino veterans were ordinary people who became extraordinary because of the "test" of the war. "War is terrible but out of this terribleness came out heroes," she said.
She hoped that as the daughter of a World War II veteran, the next generations would not have to suffer what the veterans suffered.
Katsura, as the practice of any Japanese ambassador in the past years, paid tribute to those who fell in the second World War, including those who died in the Death March, and expressed Japan's "heartfelt apology and deepest remorse" for the damage and casualties in World War II.
He did not mention the comfort women who have also been clamoring for justice, recognition and reparation.
He said Japan has since been reborn into a peace-loving nation and has contributed to the Philippines in terms of official development assistance, trade, and the pursuit of peace and development in Mindanao. (JMR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (April 10, 2008 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
