Maambong wants PB to back veteran's bill

Provincial Board member Victor Maambong has sponsored a resolution supporting a consolidated bill, earlier approved by the House Committee on Veteran Affairs, increasing the old-age pension of Filipino war veterans.

The bill was a consolidated version of four House Bills, one of which was authored by Deputy Speaker Raul del Mar, that would upgrade the benefits of military veterans and their dependents.

Under the consolidated bill, a war veteran who is at least 65 years old and eligible to receive the old-age pension shall be entitled to an increase of P1,000 to the monthly pension starting on January 1 of the year after the bill's enactment.

The bill further provides that the monthly old-age pension shall be increased by P1,000 every year for the next five years.

Maambong said the bill, if enacted, will be a big help to the economic condition of the country's living heroes.

The PB resolution, if approved, will be sent to Rep. Ernesto Gidaya, of party-list Veterans Federations of the Philippines, Maambong said. - Flor Z. Perolina