PBBM vows more support, improved pension system for WWII veterans

HEROES. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. mingles with World War II veterans at the commemoration of the 81st Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) at Mount Samat National Shrine in Pilar, Bataan on Monday (April 10, 2023). The President honored their bravery in battlefields and said all Filipinos can emulate them by hurdling everyday challenges, especially when there’s a need to defend themselves and the country. (PNA photo by Rey Baniquet)

MANILA – The government is working to find ways on how to give additional support to the country’s war veterans who have been asking for more support from the administration through a pension hike, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Monday.

During an interview following his attendance at the 81st commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan in Mt. Samat in Bataan, Marcos said his administration is looking at strengthening the pension system of Filipino war veterans.

“Ang aming tinitingnan ay kung papaano natin patibayin ang sistema na pagbigay ng pensyon sa ating mga beterano. At dahil sa kasalukuyan, pagka hindi inayos ang sistema, hindi tatagal dahil malaki ang binibigay sa mga pension (What we are looking at is how we can strengthen the pension system for our veterans. Because at present, if the system is not fixed, it will not last long because a lot is given to pensions),” he told reporters.

“Mayroon nagre-retire bago sa retireable age. Itong mga problemang ito ay lilitaw ‘yan kaya’t ang aming ginawa ay tiyakin muna na may sistema upang lahat ng ating mga beterano ay makatanggap ng kanilang tamang pension (Some are retiring before the retireable age. These problems will appear that’s why what we have done is to first make sure that there is a system so that all our veterans can receive their proper pension),” he added.

Once a stable pension system is established, Marcos said his government would look for things that could be given to the World War II veterans, who were recognized and paid with their backpay only a few years ago.

Filipino fighters called Bolomen will also continue to receive recognition and pay from the government, the chief executive said.

“Ito’y ipagpatuloy dahil kinikilala natin sila. At sa nag-survive na sundalo na fighter, na frontline fighter, kailangan talaga natin ay kupkupin natin at tulungan natin at alagaan natin sila dahil sila ang nagbigay nitong napaka-gandang biyaya ng kalayaan sa atin dito sa Pilipinas (This will continue because we recognize them. And to the surviving soldiers who are fighters, who are frontline fighters, we really need to embrace and help and take care of them because they are the ones who gave us this wonderful gift of freedom for us in the Philippines),” he said.

The President clarified, however, that the reform of the pension system for war veterans is not included in the reform being pushed by the administration for retired military and uniformed personnel (MUP).

The administration announced that it would push for the passage of the bill seeking to reform the MUP pension program.