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MANILA,
July 4 (PNA) – House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles on Wednesday
expressed optimism that the United States Congress will approve the
Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act (VBEA) of 2007 which would extend
benefits to Filipino WW II veterans living in the Philippines.
The
Veterans Enhancement bill had overwhelmingly approved by the US Senate
by a vote of 96-1, but has yet to hurdle the crucible of the U.S. House
of Representatives where it needs two-thirds affirmative vote of all
its members.
However,
Nograles believes the Equity bill “will finally see the light of day
within the year” as it is gaining momentum following the strong and
moving appeal to the American Congress by President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo during her recent State visit to the US.
“Even
as we can see a winning light in the horizon, we must continue the
fight for the sake of our veterans who sacrificed and risked their
lives for freedom,” the Speaker said.
The
VBEA seeks to widen extension of health, education, housing and pension
benefits to US veterans and includes a provision granting a special
monthly US$ 300 non-service disability to surviving members of the
Philippine Scouts and United States Forces in the Far East (USAFFE)
living in the Philippines.
Likewise,
under the bill, Filipino WW II veterans now in the United States would
receive the same monthly pension as WW II American veterans ranging
from US$ 900 to US$ 1,400.
It
will be recalled that Zambales Rep. Antonio M. Diaz organized and
headed a lobby group in the US Congress to push for the passage of this
landmark measure.
Diaz,
chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Welfare,
earlier said that "our Filipino veterans of World War II have struggled
to seek recognition and to fight for the full restoration of their
benefits from the United States government.”
Filipino
WW II veterans were stripped of their benefits under the GI Bill of
Rights with the passage of the Rescission Act in the US in 1946.
“Under
such law, the service of Filipino war veterans was not considered as
'active service'. It has been the clamor of Filipino veterans here and
abroad to correct this inequity,” Diaz said.
If enacted into law, some 18,000 surviving Filipino veterans stand to benefit. (PNA) |
