In commemoration of the 84th Araw ng Kagitingan and the 2026 Philippine Veterans Week, the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) reaffirmed its commitment to honoring Filipino veterans not only through remembrance, but through concrete programs that address their evolving needs—particularly in healthcare and welfare.
As the nation reflects on the enduring legacy of heroism rooted in the Philippine Revolution, World War II, and subsequent conflicts, PVAO emphasized that the true measure of valor today lies in how the country cares for those who once defended its freedom.
Leading this commitment is the rollout of the Yakap Beterano Program, a healthcare initiative launched in partnership with PhilHealth. The program provides veterans with free outpatient services, medicines, and laboratory tests, further strengthening the government’s existing support through free hospitalization in designated veterans wards.
PVAO Administrator Undersecretary Reynaldo B. Mapagu underscored that these efforts are part of a broader push to ensure that veterans receive comprehensive and responsive care, especially as they advance in age.
In line with this, PVAO is also developing plans for the establishment of a Veterans Hospice, a dedicated facility envisioned to provide dignified geriatric and end-of-life care for aging veterans facing increasingly complex health conditions.
“These initiatives reflect our continuing duty to those whose courage has become a living inheritance for the nation,” Mapagu said. “As we commemorate Araw ng Kagitingan, we are reminded that honoring our heroes goes beyond ceremonies—it is expressed through sustained support and meaningful action.”
This year’s Philippine Veterans Week, themed “Giting ng Bayani, Pamana ng Salinlahi,” calls on Filipinos to carry forward the legacy of courage demonstrated by generations of veterans—not only in times of war but also in nation-building and service during peace.
PVAO encourages the public to participate in the week-long observance and to join in recognizing the sacrifices and contributions of Filipino veterans, whose resilience and patriotism continue to shape the nation’s identity.
