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QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP), and the Philippine Veterans Investments Development Corporation - Industrial Authority (PHIVIDEC-IA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 18 April 2023 at the Veterans Center, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City to establish a formal partnership for mutual cooperation and support for programs dedicated to the betterment and well-being of the Filipino Veterans.
The signing of the document will allow the three organizations to fully commit and collaborate on projects that empower the Filipino Veterans Community and motivate the future defenders. Specifically, PVAO, VFP, and PHIVIDEC-IA will work together on the following: promotion of the medical welfare of veterans; promotion of the heroic deeds of the veterans; and development of systems to ensure the smooth delivery of veterans’ benefits.
Included in the promotion of the veterans’ medical welfare are the continued construction of Veterans Wards throughout various hospitals across the country and the conduct of medical missions in different provinces.
For the promotion of the veterans’ heroic deeds, support will be given for awarding ceremonies for veterans, improvement or development of facilities at military shrines, printing of educational materials relating to Filipino veterans and their heroic deeds, digitization of records of Filipino veterans found at the United States National Archives, and creation of new historical shrines and markers.
Lastly, the promotion of data sharing of information concerning veterans will be undertaken between the three organizations to ensure the proper distribution of benefits to veterans.
PVAO Administrator, Undersecretary Reynaldo B. Mapagu, VFP Acting President, Col. Cesar P. Pobre PA (Ret), and PHIVIDEC-IA Administrator, MGen Jesus A Manangquil, Jr. AFP (Ret), represented their respective institutions during the signing ceremony which was witnessed by VFP officials, representatives from various veterans organizations under the VFP, and officials from PVAO and PHIVIDEC-IA. PVAO Multi Sector Governance Council Chairperson, MGen Jose Magno Jr. AFP (Ret), was also present during the ceremony.
“The PVAO, the [PHIVIDEC-IA], and the VFP are understood to carry out their mandate individually and on their own, but because [the veterans’ welfare] is a common concern, the three government agencies decided to address the mandate by agreeing to be partners believing that it is more practical, efficient, and effective,” Col. Pobre said.
He also underscored the importance of working together for the benefit of the country's veterans.
“This explains why we are here today to sign the tripartite agreement, affirming the partnership way of dealing with the common task of looking after the Filipino veterans – a task that is not always singular but crucial,” Col. Pobre said.
MGen. Manaquil, meanwhile, highlighted the potential of the current and future estates of PHIVIDEC-IA in terms of generating revenues that can be used for the benefit of the Filipino veterans.
“The PHIVIDEC, on our part, more than ever, recognizes not only in harnessing the full potential of the veterans and the AFP retirees but also in providing for the welfare of our veterans and AFP Retirees,” he said.
USec. Mapagu, for his part, thanked the VFP and PHIVIDEC-IA for the continued support to the Filipino Veterans Community, acknowledging that empowering the veterans is not a one-man job.
“We acknowledge that we cannot accomplish much for the community without building meaningful and productive partnerships with our stakeholders such as the VFP and the PHIVIDEC-IA,” he said.
“As we move forward in fulfilling this MOU, I look forward to more opportunities of collaboration between all of us. I strongly believe that with our concerted efforts, we can accomplish more projects that will benefit our veterans and their families and empower the Filipino Veterans Community,” USec. Mapagu added.
MGen Magno also expressed his happiness in seeing various organizations coming together to improve the welfare of veterans such as himself.
Through the signing of the MOU, the three agencies hope to strengthen their collaboration and be able to empower the whole Filipino Veterans Community by effectively ensuring better services for the veterans and their families. (pvao/pia-ncr)