TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) -- The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) Tuguegarao and the Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) have collaborated for the estbalishment a 15-bed capacity ward dedicated for hospitalized veterans and their direct beneficiaries.
PVAO head Muriel Viernes said they are now completing the equipment and facilities needed for the full operation of the ward.
She said the project is also in partnership with the Veterans Federation of the Philippines, which aims to provide comfortable and dedicated facility to living heroes as part of their incentives in serving to the nation during the war in the country.
CVMC Chief of Hospital Glenn Matthew Baggao assured PVAO that there is already an identified building where the veterans ward will be estbalished.
Sire VIsit. PVAO Head Muriel VIernes and Asst. FInancial CLaim Examiner Rannie Paquirigan visit the proposed Veterans Ward at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center. (Photo courtesy of PVAO)
“Our counterpart is to provide the beds and other utilities needed in the ward. We are just waiting for the release of the proposed fund for the said necessities to start the operation of the facility,” Viernes said.
PVAO team has also conducted site inspection in the said building to determine its accessibility and to check pther needed requirements to make conducive, especially to the frail and sicky veterans.
"This ward will cater exclusive to the veterans and their family members for free," Viernes added.
Aside from monthly pension for veterans or their surviving spouse or minor children, they also enjoy other benefits to inlcude disability, burial assistance, healthcare, hospitalization, and scholarship assistance.
In Cagayan province, PVAO caters to over 2,000 military veterans and over 3,000 spouses, parents, minor children of the veterans.
Viernes also explained that the veterans, upon reaching the age of 65, they also enjoy P5,000 montlhy pension.
"Same amount is also enjoyed by the surviving spouse their direct descendants. Beneficiries could be the spouse or minor children of the veteran of parents of the veterans in case he is single," she added.
