Every war veteran deserves recognition, gratitude - PVAO

From the Philippine Information Agency (Apr 4): Every war veteran deserves recognition, gratitude - PVAO

“Simple recognition, more than the monetary,” this was the statement of BGen Resty L. Aguilar (Ret.), chief Veterans Memorial and Historical Division of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) in a press conference held Friday in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The press conference discussed the various activities lined-up in observance of the Philippine Veterans Week on April 5-11, 2016 and the 74th Araw ng Kagitingan on April 9, 2016 at the Mt. Samat National Shrine in Pilar, Bataan with President Benigno S. Aquino III to lead the event.

Aguilar said that the youth of today should be aware of the sacrifices made by our war veterans for the country.      

“Due to the advance technology, medyo nawawala ang focus ng mga kabataan sa kasaysayan,” said Aguilar.

He said that PVAO, in partnership with the Department of Education and other national government agencies, are doing its best to educate and enlighten the youth of today of the dedication and sacrifices of our war veterans.

Retired Major General Jose P. Magno, a Vietnam War veteran and chairman of the CITRA Metro Manila Railways, also said that war veterans deserves recognition and gratitude for their sacrifices.

Some 45 veterans will be given honor this year.

At present, there are about 9,500 surviving veterans left. But sadly, around 8 to 10 veterans die every day due to old age and sickness.

Meanwhile, PVAO is pushing for a pension hike. Aguilar said that the meager old age pension is barely sufficient to cover the basic needs of veterans.

Aguilar added that PVAO continuously provides hospitalization to pensioners at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) in Quezon City. PVAO also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with some hospitals to accommodate more veterans who are living outside Metro Manila.

PVAO will shoulder the hospital bills of the veterans at P1,500 daily for 45 days. Likewise, PVAO continuously provides educational benefits to children and direct grandchildren of the veterans. At present, PVAO supports around 2,000 scholars.

Meanwhile, PVAO hopes that Congress will soon pass the bill that will increase the monthly pension of war veterans to P20,000.

The theme for this year’s observance is “Isabuhay ang Kagitingan, Kapayapaan ay Pagkaisahan, Kamtin ang Mithing Kaunlaran.”

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/241459748816/every-war-veteran-deserves-recognition-gratitude---pvao