An exclusive area for veterans and their dependents will be opened at the government-run Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) starting this quarter.
The extension of the VMMC services in this region will address the medical needs of the more than 3,000 Cordillera-based veterans and their dependents, who have to travel to Manila for health-related services.
“VMMC (Veterans Memorial Medical Center) is in talks with BGHMC and they will allot an area devoted to veterans,” Cherrylyn Sabling, officer-in-charge of the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office-Baguio, said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas briefing here on Tuesday.
The PVAO-Baguio office caters to 3,373 veterans and dependents — 24 surviving World War II (WWII) veterans, 467 surviving spouses, 919 post war veterans, 1,040 surviving spouses of post-war veterans, 800 death pensioners and 123 disability pensioners.
Sabling said the oldest surviving WWII veteran in the region aged 107 years is in Ifugao, and the youngest surviving spouse is 65 years old.
Veterans receive old age pension and total administrative disability pension; and non-pension benefits like educational benefits for the veterans, the surviving spouse or one direct descendant, burial assistance, hospitalization and medical care program.
PVAO clients are those who rendered military service in the land, sea or air forces of the Philippines during the revolution against Spain, during the Philippine-American War and WWII, including Filipino citizens who served with the Allied Forces in the Philippine territory; members of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea; members of the Philippine Civic Action Group who served during the Vietnam war; and rendered military services in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and has been honorably discharged or retired after at least six years total cumulative active service or 20 years according to Republic Act No. 9396 for those who rendered military service starting March 18, 2007 or sooner separated while in the active service due to death or disability arising from a wound or injury received or sickness or disease incurred in
the line of duty. (PNA)
