EDITORIAL - Appreciation

A war veteran, 101 years old, received a special award yesterday, but not everyone is blessed with such longevity. Only 9,500 are left of the veterans of World War II, and their numbers continue to dwindle. This week the nation is paying tribute to them, with 45 being honored for their exemplary service.

In recent years, higher public awareness and stronger lobbying on behalf of the veterans have led to improved benefits for the survivors and the families of those who have passed away. Benefits extended by the United States to those who fought alongside American soldiers have also improved. Still, the veterans and their families deserve more.

Veterans Week also provides an opportunity for reviewing benefits granted to those who served during the Korean War and to all retired members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Many AFP members have been assigned to conflict zones, risking their lives in battling armed threats.

In several countries, those who put their lives on the line to keep the public safe enjoy special privileges all the way to retirement. Life has improved for soldiers in the Philippines, but there are still AFP members who can be classified as living below the poverty line and who lack decent housing. Retirees’ pensions are barely enough to pay for elderly health care, and collection of the pensions can be cumbersome.

The country does not have the resources to give its armed forces the kind of care given by advanced economies to their soldiers. But the country can aim for reasonably decent compensation and other benefits. Military service can call for great personal sacrifices, and their compensation is a way of expressing the nation’s appreciation. This should include benefits given to those who have retired from the service, starting with the remaining veterans of the last war.