President Aquino vows effective implementation
of the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Law under his helm
PILAR, Bataan) President Benigno S. Aquino III
announced on Tuesday the government's effective implementation of the Filipino
Veterans Equity Compensation Law.
In his speech keynoting the commemoration of the
71th Araw ng Kagitingan rites at Mt. Samat Shrine here, the Chief Executive
said that some 18,700 Filipino veterans were already given their compensation
totaling to US$ 224 million as of January this year.
"Nakatutok din po tayo sa pagpapatupad ng
Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Law kung saan sinisigurong nabibigyan ng
buong kompensasyon ang non-US citizens, na aabot po sa siyam na libong dolyar,
at labinlimang libong dolyar naman para sa mga US citizens," the President
said.
"Nito pong Enero, umabot na sa dalawandaan
at dalawampu’t apat na milyong dolyar ang naibahaging kompensasyon para sa
mahigit labingwalong libo’t pitongdaang aplikasyong naaprubahan sa ilalim ng
batas na ito," he said.
The President, likewise, noted that the
government continues to push more initiatives for additional pension benefits
and compensations and medical services to veterans who fought during the Second
World War.
"Mula pa po noon, nakatutok na sa kapakanan
ng ating mga beterano ang Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO). Kabilang
po rito ang pagsusulong sa pagbabahagi ng kabuuang bayad ng ating Total
Administrative Disability (TAD) pensions, kung saan bukod sa iba pang
benepisyo, ay makatatanggap ng isanlibo’t pitongdaang piso kada buwan ang mga
beteranong nakaabot na sa edad na pitumpung taong gulang," he stressed.
"Pagdating naman po sa serbisyong medikal,
taon-taon din nating pinapaigting ang pagtuon sa kalusugan ng ating mga kawal.
Patuloy pong nagsisilbi ang limandaan at siyamnapu’t siyam na pampublikong
ospital sa buong bansa na accredited ng Veteran’s Memorial Medical Center
(VMMC) bilang regional or provincial extension," he added.
The President exhorted the Filipinos to adopt
the principles, ideals and deeds of the country's war veterans and keep peace
at all times.
"Anumang banta sa kapayapaan at kabuhayan
sa alinmang bansa ay maaring magpalundo sa kalakhang estabilidad ng buong
mundo. Sa madaling salita, nakasalalay sa masusing ugnayan, sa pagkakaisa, at
sa iisang direksyong pagsagwan ang kolektibo nating kinabukasan," he said.
He also honored the veterans who sacrificed
their lives during the World War II for the Filipino nation to gain freedom.
"Ngayon pong Araw ng Kagitingan, isang
bansa muli tayong nagtitipon sa makasaysayang pook na ito, upang magbalik-tanaw
at bigyang-pugay ang kabayanihan ng mga beteranong Pilipino at Amerikano ng
Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig. Sila po ang libo-libong kawal na buong-loob na
hinaharang ang katawan sa bala alang-alang sa bayan," the President said.
The President was joined by Japanese Ambassador
Toshinao Urabe, United States Ambassador Harry K. Thomas, National Historical
Commission of the Philippines Chair Dr. Maria Serena Diokno, Defense Secretary
Voltaire Gazmin, among others during the ceremonies which has for its theme "Ang
Beterano: Sigla at Inspirasyon ng Kabataan Tungo sa Tuwid na Daan."
The Day of Valor, also known as Araw ng
Kagitingan, commemorates the heroism of Filipinos and American Soldiers when
the Japanese occupied the Philippines during World War II.
On April 9, 1942, the troops of Bataan led by
their commander, Maj. Gen. Edward P. King, Jr. surrendered to the Japanese. The
Filipino and American soldiers were forced to march 90 miles under the heat of
the sun from Bataan to Camp O’ Donell in Tarlac. Many died even before they
could reach the Camp. PND (js)
President Aquino to groundbreak Roxas City
Airport Development Project Wednesday
President Benigno S. Aquino III will visit the
province of Capiz on Wednesday to lead the ceremonial groundbreaking of the
Roxas City Airport Development Project which is part of the administration’s
efforts to boost tourism and economic development in the said area and its
neighboring towns.
Joining the President in the event are Civil
Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) director general William Hotchkiss
and Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya
whose respective agencies are on top of the project.
According to reports the DOTC recently released
its invitation for interested bidders in the P24.24-million Roxas City Airport
Development Project which covers the asphalt overlay of the 460-meter long and
30-meter wide runway.
The DOTC said this project aims to shore up the
government’s goal to have at least 10 million tourists before President Aquino
steps down in 2016, in recognition of Roxas City as the country’s ‘seafood
capital’ where an increasing number of local and foreign tourists are expected
to visit.
Shortly after the groundbreaking ceremony,
President Aquino will proceed to Mambusao where he will meet with local leaders
and the community in support of the Liberal Party coalition’s senatorial slate.
He will then go to Iloilo to also attend to some of his scheduled activities
there. PND (hdc)
