PVAO, Pangasinan assure more help to World War II veterans

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 9): PVAO, Pangasinan assure more help to World War II veterans

The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) and the Pangasinan provincial government led by Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr. have assured full support to the veterans of World War II and their espouses, particularly on the increase of their financial benefits.

Major Gen. Raul Caballes, Deputy PVAO Administrator, stressed during a press conference held after the commemoration of the 70th Lingayen Gulf Landings and 8th Pangasinan Veterans’ Day that “PVAO always find ways and means to push for the increase of the benefits for the war veterans.”

While the increase of old-age pension of surviving WWII veterans and their spouses from PhP5,000 to PhP20,000 is still pending in the Congress, Caballes said that in November last year, President Benigno S. Aquino III approved the increase of burial assistance for the veterans from PhP10,000 to PhP20,000.

“Both houses of the Congress are very sympathetic to our WWII veterans,” he pointed out, adding that the PVAO sees no major obstacle for the approval of proposed laws which are catered for the benefit of the surviving veterans in the country.

Aside from the existing Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, the PVAO is looking forward for the approval of a bill seeking for the construction of three additional Veterans’ Hospitals which shall be located in Northern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Governor Espino, who led the presentation of recognition to war veteran centenarians and medallion of valor to all war veterans during the commemorative program, reiterated the importance of the activity for Pangasinenses.

The governor said: “I just wanted Pangasinenses, especially the younger generation, to appreciate the sacrifices our forefathers did to liberate the country,” adding that basic values like sacrifice should be inculcated in the minds of the people.

“This is actually the 9th Pangasinan Veterans’ Day celebration because the first celebration was held in 1995 during the 50th year of Lingayen Gulf Landings commemoration which highlighted the inauguration of the Veterans Park,” the governor said.

Espino said that aside from recognition, the veterans need material help.

“We are providing them cash assistance (but the amount is yet to be finalized), medicines and we are also coordinating with the PVAO for the increase of their benefits,” he said.

Espino disclosed that a PVAO extension office will soon rise within the Capitol Complex. The PVAO administration as agreed upon, will assign personnel to oversee the transactions of the war veterans in availing of their benefits, according to the governor.

Congressman Leopoldo Bataoil added that a Retirees’ Hall for the PNP retirees and veterans, including AFP retirees, was inaugurated last year. The hall was located at the Provincial Headquarters of the PNP.

Retired Senior Supt. Mariano Verzosa, who heads the PNP Retirees Association, is currently coordinating with former Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Raul Urgello for the continuing medical assistance for the veterans and retirees from PNP and AFP.

Pangasinan, Urgello said, is the first province to establish a Retirees’ Hall which can be emulated by all other provinces to give honor to veterans and retirees.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. James Pasquarette, Deputy Commanding General of the US Army Pacific, thanked the media for the coverage of the event as he commended Governor Espino for the successful conduct of the ceremonial activity.

“It’s important that your people and the world appreciate what happened here. Without the media reporting on it, it will be just a nice ceremony and everybody goes home. I wanna thank the governor for putting on a great show today, with the Mass which was special I thought and then the whole ceremony,” he said.

“My personal thought right now is that the relationship between the United States and the Philippines is as strong as it’s been in the long time. And I think it’s getting stronger,” Pasquarette said.

Also present during the press conference were: Col. Bruce Murray, Defense Attaché of the Australian Embassy to the Philippines, and Vice Gov. Jose Ferdinand Calimlim Jr.

Based on PVAO records as of January 2015, Pangasinan has a total of 7,010 veterans (pensioners), broken down as follows: 619 (WWII) and 2,687 (surviving spouses); 1,373 (Post War) and 2,331 (surviving spouses).

Of the total 11,586 veterans in Region 1, at least 60.5 percent or 7,010 are from Pangasinan.

Pangasinan shares 52 percent or 619 of the total 1,191 surviving WWII veterans in the region.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=723609