MANILA, (PIA) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday awarded financial assistance to 62 families of uniformed personnel killed in the line of duty, at a ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
The beneficiaries at the ceremony included families of personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, and Bureau of Fire Protection who died during operations.
Each family will receive 500,000 pesos in two installments, with an additional 100,000 pesos provided by the Office of the President during the event.
The financial aid was distributed through the Comprehensive Social Benefits Program, which supports families of service members who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Lt. Gen. Rommel Roldan, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff, emphasized the importance of supporting military families during the ceremony.
“The role of every uniformed personnel is crucial. It is indispensable,” Roldan said. “It is through their valor, dedication, and quiet resolve that our republic stands strong.”
Roldan assured continued assistance to service members and their families, calling the program “an affirmation of our ongoing commitment to stand by our troops and their families not only in battle but even beyond it.”
Meanwhile, during the event, the President also pledged to expedite benefits to families.
Speaking at the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters, Marcos expressed dismay at learning about delays in distributing benefits due to complex documentation requirements.
“I asked them, ‘Are these benefits that we promise to those who serve us being given properly? Are they being given quickly?’ I was saddened because the answer was, ‘Not yet,’” Marcos said.
The president explained that his administration is streamlining the process to make benefits more accessible. “We will prepare the documents. We will arrange what they need to make our celebration of the Day of Valor more meaningful,” he added.| Jerome Carlo Paunan /PIA-NCR)
(Photos: Bongbong Marcos Facebook page)
