ShareThisQUEZON CITY – The House of Representatives has passed on third and final reading a bill seeking to establish an office of Veterans Affairs in the Philippine Embassy in the United States.
Reps. Rufus B. Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City) and Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. (Party-list, Abante Mindanao Inc.), authors of the House Bill 724, said the bill will ensure that the Filipino veterans will enjoy their twilight years with the aid of their benefits and privileges.
“The proposed Office of Veterans Affairs in the Philippine Embassy in the United States shall represent, negotiate and lobby for the rights of the Filipino veterans with the appropriate U S offices,” Rodriguez said.
Under the measure, the President of the Philippines shall appoint the head of the office.
Under the bill, the proposed Veterans Affairs Office in the Philippine Embassy in the United States shall be maintained for five years after the date of the establishment of the office or until the Filipino veterans shall have availed of the legitimate claims, the time of which shall not exceed another five years.
“The declared policy of the government is to pursue the claims of Filipino veterans of World War II and work for the full restoration of their rights, privileges and benefits from the United States government,” Rodriguez said.
“There are about 249,987 pensioners as of June 2007. Some 183,274 are receiving their old age pension and 16,995 have already received their disability pension,” Rodriguez said.
“Of the ones receiving their old age pension, 158,022 receive their benefits through the bank while the remaining number receives theirs through snail mail,” Rodriguez said.
“Despite the veterans’ receiving compensation for their service to the country, they have yet to collect their full benefits and privileges from the American government with whom they fought and served to obtain independence and peace,” Rodriguez added. (Jazmin S. Camero)