PVAO requirements in, but pension still out

This is an appeal on behalf of my disabled brother, retired Col. Alfonso A. Lopez, PAF, who, for 37 years, faithfully served the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Through the Inquirer, I would like to call the attention of the concerned officials and ask for their help regarding my brother’s pension benefit due from the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO).

I accompanied my disabled brother to personally file his claim on July 16, 2010 at PVAO. After about seven months, we were told that the claim had already been approved. PVAO then advised my disabled brother to personally open an ATM account with the Land Bank and to appear at PVAO’s finance department for finger-printing, and to submit his Land Bank ATM account number. After complying with all the requirements, my brother was told to wait for the release of the money through the Land Bank ATM.

After three months, I had to call the finance department of PVAO about the status of my brother’s claim, only to be told that I had to bring my brother again to PVAO for another round of finger-printing. Imagine the discomfort my brother, who is wheelchair-bound after suffering a stroke, had to go through to report to the PVAO four times.

Luckily, I had a chance encounter with the PVAO president and was able to tell him about my disabled brother’s claim, but to no avail.

Almost one year and four months has passed since. I am really wondering why it takes the PVAO too long to release the money when all the requirements have been submitted and complied with.

—COL. ESTELA L. YUTADCO (ret.)