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By Efren L. Danao, Senior Reporter
THE President’s timely signing of a new law
during the Araw ng Kagitingan on April 9 facilitated the recent
approval by the US Senate of the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act,
Sen. Richard Gordon said Sunday.
Gordon was referring to Republic Act 9499, which
he authored, that allows Filipino World War II veterans to continue
receiving Philippine government pensions and benefits
notwithstanding similar pensions and benefits provided by the United
States.
“For some time, some US senators had been
stalling the passage of the Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act on
account that the Philippine Veterans law would cancel pension
benefits to veterans who would choose to receive pension from the
US,” he said.
The senator gathered this information during a
visit to the US Congress where he and Ambassador Willy Gaa, who is
Manila’s envoy to Washington, lobbied with US legislators for the
bill. Section 10 of Republic Act 6948 or “An Act Standardizing and
Upgrading the Benefits for Military Veterans and their Dependents”
forfeits the pension given by the Philippine government to Filipino
World War II veterans should a similar pension be given by the
American government.
“Republic Act 6948 was repeatedly referred to
in the debates of the US Senate. We can only be honored to have
played a part in securing what may be final victory for our aging
veterans,” Gordon said.
Republic Act 9499, signed by President Gloria
Arroyo in Mount Samat, also increased the old-age pension given by
the Philippine government to the veterans from P500 to P5,000 a
month. Representatives Herminia Roman and Carissa Coscolluela
authored the House version.
Gordon said that once the Veterans Benefits
Enhancement Act of 2007 becomes law, about 13,000 Filipino World War
II veterans will soon receive $300 in monthly pension and benefits
from the United States in addition to the P5,000 old-age pension
from the Philippine government.
“Certainly, the expected benefits will provide
comfort in their waning years, but what matters really is the
American government’s recognition of their heroism, valor and
sacrifice,” he said.
The Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007
expands the coverage of veterans’ benefits, including a program of
insurance for service-connected disability, expanded eligibility for
retroactive benefits, traumatic injury protection coverage, housing
benefits for those with severe burn injuries, and extension to two
years of monthly educational assistance for apprenticeship and
on-the-job training.
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