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FEB.

25, 2014

NR # 3388

House appropriations committee approves bill raising burial assistance to veterans to P20,000
The House committee on appropriations has approved a proposal to increase the burial assistance to veterans to P20,000 from the present P10,000 in recognition of their patriotic services in times of war and peace. The committee chaired by Rep. sidro !ngab "#rd $istrict, $avao %ity& approved the proposal embodied in House 'ill ()* authored by Rep. Herminia Roman "1 st $istrict, 'ataan&, chairperson of the %ommittee on +eterans ,ffairs and -elfare. House 'ill ()* is in consolidation with H' )*# filed by .agdalo Party/list Reps. 0rancisco ,shley ,cedillo and 1ary ,le2ano, H' 1*1) by Rep. Harlin %ast. ,bayon "1 st $istrict, 3orthern 4amar& and H' 2()5 by Rep. Roy 6oyola "7th $istrict, %avite&. !ngab said the P20,000 burial assistance to veterans is reasonable and affordable on the part of the government. 8The present P10,000 burial assistance is unrealistic considering that we are now in 201*. The P20,000 proposal is reasonable assistance to our veterans who sacrificed their lives for our liberty and democracy. They deserve such amount. The government can afford a bigger amount of assistance to be included in the national budget,9 said !ngab. $uring the committee hearing, Philippine +eterans ,ffairs :ffice "P+,:& administrator ;rnesto %arolina said P+,: has no arrears in assistance to the country<s veterans. ,ssistant 4ecretary =anet ,buel of the $epartment of 'udget and .anagement "$'.& said the increased burial assistance would re>uire a budget of P57 million. 4he said the $'. did not interpose ob2ection to the bill since it understands the plight of veterans. 4he further said that for 201*, the P+,: stated it is capable of providing the appropriations for the bigger burial assistance to veterans. 8 thin? P+,: has savings.9 Roman said it is but appropriate to accord veterans with decent burial befitting a gentleman in uniform. 8This is in recognition of the valiant efforts of our veterans who ris?ed their lives for the protection of the 4tate and in defense of our liberty and democracy,9 she said. Roman said prices of all commodities have considerably increased as a result of the worldwide economic meltdown. t is an irony that even in death, burial e@penses are not spared from the s?yroc?eting prices of commodities, according to her.

8Thus, in order to achieve a decent burial for our veterans, it is necessary that the burial assistance to the ne@t/of/?in a deceased veteran be increased. %onsistent with the 4tate policy to help foster socio/economic security and the general well/being of the country<s veterans in recognition of their patriotic services in times of war and peace, it is appropriate that the government provides assistance to the ne@t/of/?in of veterans after their demise. ,s veterans, they deserve the government<s attention and support. ,fter all, they have rendered invaluable service to our country and it is only proper for the government to increase the burial assistance e@tended to the families of deceased veterans to defray the high cost of burial services,9 said Roman. The bill see?s the amendment of 4ection 20 of Republic ,ct ()*A, otherwise ?nown as 8,n ,ct 4tandardiBing and !pgrading the 'enefits for .ilitary +eterans and Their $ependents,9 as amended, by providing that 8!nless the person who defrayed the e@penses for the funeral of a deceased veteran is entitled to a similar benefit from the !nited 4tates government, he or she shall be given P20,000 as burial assistance upon application therefore in due form which shall be filed within two years from the death of the veteran concerned.9 , veteran is any person who rendered military service in the land, sea, air forces of the Philippines during the revolution against 4pain, the Philippine/,merican -ar, -orld -ar , including 0ilipino citiBens who served in the ,llied 0orces in the Philippine territory and foreign nationals who served in Philippine forces, the Corean %ampaign, the +ietnam %ampaign, the ,nti/$issidence %ampaign, or other wars and military campaignsD or who rendered military service in the ,rmed 0orces of the Philippines and has been honorably discharged or separated after at least si@ years total cumulative active service, or sooner separated due to death or disability arising from a wound or in2ury received or sic?ness or disease incurred in line of duty while in the active service. "#0& rbb

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