MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte announced Monday the release of PHP4.7 billion in unpaid total administrative disability (TAD) for widows of World War II veterans and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) retirees.
“It will be released as soon as possible,” President Duterte announced in his speech during the National Heroes Day celebration at the Libingan ng nga Bayani in Taguig City.
Reading from the notes handed to him by Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, the President said the spouses of deceased WWII veterans aged 80 and above will get a total of PHP3.5 billion.
On the other hand, the President said, AFP retirees will receive PHP1.2 billion.
The amount was appropriated in the 2016 national budget but was not released by the past administration of President Benigno Aquino III.
The joint implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the unpaid TAD arrears has already been signed by Diokno and National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, according to the President.
The country has more than 83,000 WWII and post-war veterans and their spouses.