MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives approved a bill seeking to increase by P15,000 the pension of Filipino senior war veterans.

With a vote of 239-0-0, lawmakers approved on 3rd and final reading House Bill (HB) No. 7525, raising the old age pension of senior veterans from P5,000 to P20,000. 

If passed into law, the bill would increase the old age pension of senior war veterans who fought in World War II. The same pension increase would be received by senior war veterans who fought in the Korean and Vietnam wars, but who are not receiving pension from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 

The pension entitlement, however, would not be transferable to any relative or dependent of the senior veterans.

The funds for the first year of implementation of the pension increase would be taken from the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office’s available budget. The funds for the pension increase’s continued implementation will later be included in the General Appropriations Act or national budget.

Last year, the United States Congress honored Filipino veterans of World War II by awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal, one of America’s highest civilian awards. – Rappler.com