PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed Republic Act (RA) 11164, which increased the old-age pension of senior veterans to P20,000 per month from the current P5,000.
RA 11164 provides that veterans of World War II, Korean and Vietnam wars who are not receiving pension from the military are entitled to the higher old-age pension.
The newly-signed law also limits the entitlement to the increase in old-age pension to the eligible living senior veterans.
This means that the increased monthly pension will not be transferable to any family members or dependents of the senior veterans.
The amount needed for the initial implementation of the increase in the old-age pension will be taken from the current year's available appropriation of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO).
Such sums needed for the continued implementation of RA 11164 will be included in the succeeding annual General Appropriations Act, provided that the PVAO will prioritize the distribution of the benefits granted.
The Palace on Thursday, January 10, released a copy of RA 11164, which was signed by Duterte on December 20, 2018. (SunStar Philippines)