DAVAO CITY – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration increased the disability pension of veterans to PHP10,000 from PHP1,700 monthly in November last year, according to the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office in Davao Region (PVAO-11).
“They only got a PHP1,700 pension before. But this time, with the PHP10,000, it will greatly help their families,” Remedios Josol, the PVAO-11 head, said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas media briefing here on Tuesday afternoon.
Data from PVAO showed that around PHP8.4 million in disability pensions were disbursed to some 92 veterans from November 2023 to August this year.
Veterans qualified for the disability pension are those disabled due to sickness, disease, wounds, or injuries sustained in the line of duty.
Josol, however, clarified that the disability pension would be based on ratings.
Disability rated from 10 to 30 percent will mean a monthly pension of PHP4,500; 31 to 40 percent, PHP5,300; 41 to 50 percent, PHP6,100; 51 to 60 percent, PHP6,900; 61 to 70 percent, PHP7,700); 71 to 80 percent, PHP8,500; 81 to 90 percent, PHP9,300; and 91 to 100 percent (P10,000).
The percentage ratings represent the average impairment resulting from such disabilities and injuries and their residual condition in civil occupation.
According to Josol, the rating schedule is primarily a guide in evaluating disabilities and injuries resulting from all types of disabilities and injuries encountered during or incident to military service.
Meanwhile, to further provide medical care to veterans, PVAO and the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) established veterans’ wards under the Veterans Hospitalization and Medical Care Program, which offers free medical benefits to veterans and their dependents.
“Now we have a 15-bed veterans ward at the SPMC with 10 beds for males – five for females and one room for isolation,” Josol said.
At present, PVAO has recorded around 4,000 veterans in the Davao Region. (PNA)
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