Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año, announced on Tuesday (April 9) that President Rodrigo Duterte has issued a directive for the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) to speed up the processing of monthly pensions of veterans.
Secretary Año represented the President at the 77th commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan or the Day of Valor at the Mount Samat National Shrine in Bataan.
Año announced that a P50-million monthly support will be given to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center and the pension increase from P5,000 to P20,000 has been set.
Vice President Leni Robredo addressed some 4,000 people, including surviving war veterans and their relatives, during the commemoration.
President Duterte led the commemoration of the Day of Valor at Camp General Teodulfo Bautista Headquarters in Barangay Busbus in Jolo, Sulu.
In his speech during the commemoration, the President said that, while the country remembers the gallantry of thousands of Filipino soldiers who defended Bataan in 1942, the administration honors and acknowledges the Filipino soldiers of today for their relentless efforts to fight lawless elements that threaten the country’s security.
“I salute you and give you honor…to the valiant soldiers who were injured or who gave their lives during the recent military operations here in Sulu. Let me assure you that you have — the government [will] continue to prioritize your welfare and that of your families,” the President said.
Last year, the President also failed to attend the rites in Bataan due to a business forum in China. – Maris Federez
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