Benefits from PVAO

DEAR Editor,
Hi! I’m one of the readers of Aksyon Line. I have some queries regarding my father who was a member of PVAO. I can no longer find his documents. He died in 1996 and we have yet to received any benefits from PVAO.
How can we know if he still has benefits to be claimed and how can we claim it? My father’s name is CASIMIRO CARREON SORIANO. His birthday is December 11, 1911. Please email me back. Thanks and more power.
Regards,
LORETO A.
SORIANO
REPLY: Dear Mr. Soriano,
This is in reference to your emailed query dated July 2, 2013 referred to us by Ms. Lisa Soriano-Roy of the Inquirer Bandera for column “Aksyon Line.”
Please be informed that the availment of pensions and other non-pension benefits and services from the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) is not subject to membership. PVAO does not have “members” so to speak, only pensioners and beneficiaries.
Veterans benefits and services are administered by PVAO pursuant to Republic Act 6948 as amended. The law defines the term “veteran” as any person who rendered honorable military service in the land, sea or air force of the Philippines; was a member of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) and the Philippine Civic Action Group (PHILCAG); or who rendered military service in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and has been honorably discharged or separated after at least 20 years total cumulative active service, or sooner separated due to death
or disability arising from a wound or injury received or sickness or disease incurred in line of duty while in the active service (amended pursuant to Republic Act 9396).
If you wish to obtain a copy of the military service record of your father, please visit the NON-CURRENT RECORDS DIVISION, OFFICE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL (NRD-OTAG) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
As per our database, the only claim under your father’s name is Burial Assistance filed by Ms. Lourdes Soriano-De Lara on December 3, 2001. However, it was disapproved because it was filed after the two-year prescription period from the date of veteran’s death. Since the veteran had not filed for any pension claim, no accrued posthumous benefit may be given to his compulsory heir/beneficiary.
However, if the veteran has a valid service record from the NRD-OTAG, one direct descendant may be entitled to an Educational Benefit from PVAO. This provides tuition-fee subsidy of not more than P36,000.00 per year per beneficiary for a four or five-year college course of his/her choice.
Should you have further questions regarding pension claims, please visit us at Veterans Compound, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City or call us at (02)912-4728.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
Ms. Maria Juanita S. Fajardo-Rivera
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