President Duterte paid tribute yesterday to modern-day heroes in celebration of National Heroes’ Day by ordering the release of P4.7 billion in benefits for the widows of fallen soldiers as well as those who have retired from the service.

Of the budget, the President said P3.5 billion will go to the payment of pension arrears for the widows of war veterans while P1.2 billion would go to military retirees aged 80 years old and above.

“For those who are not paid by the previous administrations, actually all of them, for release is P4.7 billion for the payment of the total administrative disability (TAD) arrears of widows of deceased World War II veterans and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) retirees who are 80 years old and above,” Duterte said in his remarks at the memorial held at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.

“It will be released as soon as possible,” the President assured.

The President said the budget for the military benefits has been appropriated in the 2016 national budget but has not been released by his predecessor.

He said the joint implementing rules and regulations of the release of arrears for families of World War 2 veterans and AFP retirees have been signed by Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

Duterte also said he would also offer P250,000 from the President’s Social Fund for the families of government troops killed in the line of duty.

It was Diokno who submitted a piece of paper about the release of funds for pension benefits prior to the President’s speech.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Genalyn D. Kabiling and Yas D. Ocampo

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