THE Senate passed on third and final reading Senate Bill (SB) 1719 declaring April of every year as Philippine Veterans Month to honor their legacy and include their heroism in the basic education curriculum. There are 464 living veterans of World War II, 41 surviving members of the Philippine Civic Action Group who served in Vietnam, and 29 veterans of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea. The measure “responds to the urgency of honoring them while they are still alive,” said Sen. Loren Legarda, who authored and sponsored SB 1719. The senator said the bill’s approval on Monday affirmed the nation’s “solemn duty to honor those who fought for freedom.” “Our veterans carried the burden of war so that future generations could live in peace. This Act ensures that their courage is remembered in the way we care for them and in the lessons we pass on to our youth,” Legarda said. SB 1719 mandates nationwide activities to honor the veterans and promote public awareness of their contributions. It also directs the Department of Education (DepEd) to integrate veterans’ stories in the basic education curriculum, encourages youth volunteer programs, and ensures improved access to benefits and health services. The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office and Department of National Defense are tasked to implement the programs for veterans’ welfare in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, and DepEd. Legarda said that by declaring April as Philippine Veterans Month, the proposed law turns commemorations into concrete programs, channeling gratitude through education, health care and public service.