Definitions
- Veteran: person who served in various military conflicts or campaigns or served at least six years in the Armed Forces and honorably discharged.
- Military Personnel: officers, enlisted personnel, draftees, and trainees.
- Officer, Enlisted Person, Draftee, Trainee defined by military status.
- Active Service: duty in regular or reserve Armed Forces.
- Overseas Service: military service outside the Philippines.
- Dependent: spouse, child or parent wholly supported by veteran.
- Surviving Spouse, Children, Minor Children, Incompetent, Parents, Indigent Parents, Political Prisoner, Administrator - all clearly defined.
Educational Benefits (Part A)
- Eligibility for veterans or one child, surviving spouse, or legal guardian.
- Admission to authorized government schools with government-paid school fees.
- Must be certified by the Administrator.
Disability Pension (Part B)
- Eligibility based on service period for various campaigns and forces.
- Monthly pension rates vary from P600.00 to P1,125.00 depending on disability percentage.
- Additional pension for spouse and unmarried minor children.
- Pension effectivity based on application date and discharge date.
- Periodic re-evaluation of disability by Disability Rating Board.
- Exemption from re-examination for static, permanent disabilities or veterans aged 57 or older.
Pension for Veterans of the Revolution (Part C)
- Veterans of the Philippine Revolution and Philippine-American War receive P600.00 monthly plus P150.00 for spouse and unmarried minor children.
Old-Age Pension (Part D)
- Veterans aged 65 or older receive P500.00 monthly old-age pension.
- Surviving spouse entitled to P500.00 monthly pension until remarriage or death.
Death Pension (Part E)
- For deaths in line of duty or caused by injuries or disease incurred in service.
- Pensions: P500.00 for surviving spouse, P250.00 for each unmarried minor child.
- Indigent parents may receive P250.00 monthly pension.
- 50% pension for deaths not incurred in war or military campaign.
- Surviving spouse of veterans of revolution entitled to P600.00 monthly.
- Death gratuity rights cease upon approval of this Act; death pension substituted with refund provisions if gratuity already received.
Hospitalization, Medical Care, and Treatment (Part F)
- PV.A.O. to provide medical care to eligible veterans and dependents.
- Veterans Memorial Medical Center is primary facility, expanded to 700 beds.
- Agreements for veterans wards in government hospitals with at least 1,000 beds nationwide.
- Veterans may be admitted free in other government hospitals under arrangements.
Burial Benefits (Part G)
- PV.A.O. provides burial flag for deceased veterans' caskets.
- Burial assistance of P4,000.00 provided unless similar benefit received from US Government.
- Application within two years from death.
General Provisions
- Claims for benefits do not prescribe unless otherwise stated.
- Applications filed mostly with PV.A.O., some disability pensions filed with AFP General Headquarters.
- Pensions exempt from taxes, levy, attachment, garnishment.
- Fraudulent claims void benefits and subject to fines and imprisonment.
- Benefits may be withheld for veterans found guilty of gross human rights violation; does not affect next of kin.
- No service fees or charges allowed for claim processing.
- Certain officers empowered to administer oaths for claims.
- Pension adjustments tied to government salary adjustments.
- Department of National Defense to issue implementing rules.
- Initial appropriation of P1,298,000,000 allocated; ongoing funding from General Appropriations Act.
- Separability clause ensures other provisions remain effective if some struck down.
- Repeal of inconsistent laws and regulations.
- Act effective upon approval.